We often have too many illusions about our next big goal. 

• “This next promotion will change my life.”
• ” When I achieve financial independence, my life will completely ….
• ” Our move will…”

But is it true? 

The experts on the subject answer “No” and my experience is the same. 

“When people consider the impact of any single factor on their well-being—not only income—they are prone to exaggerate its importance,”
— Daniel Kahneman and his co-author in Science publication. 

Why? 

By focusing on the subject, we make it more important than it is, and forget the hundreds of other parameters. 

“In this sunny region, my life will be more beautiful.” 

And yes, if you like the sun, it will help you. But the other 80% of your life will not change.

• The hard waking up
• The morning stress to be on time
• The files that pile up at work
• The extra pounds
• Relationship problems with your boos, peers, family, and wife…
• The teenage crisis of your first child
• Your parents’ health problems. 
• Fill in the blank…

Life is multidimensional and your goal, however important it may be, is only one part of it.  It may even aggravate the others. 

By moving, you have distanced yourself from your parents who are suffering. The teenage crisis has worsened because your child has lost all his marks. The traffic jams are more important (you are not the only one who wants to live in the sun😀). 

Daniel Kahneman calls it “The Illusion of Focus.”

So should we do nothing? 

No. It’s a bad idea, but I can see why it’s on your mind from what I’ve written above. 😀

I am currently living a childhood dream. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to achieve financial independence. And for me, that means not having to worry about money and being able to do what I want. 

I’ve recently achieved this. I’ve left a corporate job that I enjoyed but that took up all my time, and I find myself fulfilling one of my dreams. 

Am I happier? I was happy before, and I am happy now. I enjoy every minute of my new freedom. It contributes to my joy of living. 

But has my life changed completely? No. I still have the ups and downs of a young father with the joys and sorrows of everyday life. 

Knowing allows you to apprehend better and avoid deception. 

“Its the not the Destination, It’s the journey.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

Knowing the concept of “The Illusion of Focus.” you can better prepare yourself. You can pursue your dreams, leave extraordinary experiences, enjoy the path and keep somewhere in your mind that even when you’ll arrive, your life won’t completely change.

But how do I prepare? 

1. Make plans. They add spice, joy, excitement to your life. 
2. List the things that make you happy and those that tend to drag you down. 
3. In parallel to your big project, work on what you want to improve. Who says you have to live in your new dream house before you can cut down on sugar, exercise more, spend more time with your kids….
4. Enjoy the path to your new goal. It allows you to excel at work, at home, in your leisure. It helps you become a better version of yourself. 

I have been fortunate enough to pursue many big dreams in my career and personal life. Afterward, none of them completely transformed my life, but I have had great adventures that positively changed me. And it’ll stay with me forever

So does it worth it? 

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
— Arthur Ashe

YES. Go for it, follow your dreams, grow, develop, change, learn, and be happy every step of the way. Your daily life won’t change dramatically but you will become a better version of yourself. And that’s worth every second of the journey. 

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