One aspect of wisdom must be in accepting that, with the exception of people in extreme circumstances, your present situation is as good as life is ever going to get.
External desires constantly tempt us into thinking that life will be better once they’ve been achieved. All the while failing to realize that enjoyment derives from favorable internal conditions. This is the Buddhist injunction to live in the present.
The vast majority of people go their whole lives with an ability to live optimally, but compromise this ability with false promises to themselves. And, if you believe in fate even those who experience the worst that life has to offer still have this ability to live optimally, within the bounds of their fate.
I’m just starting to see why this doesn’t necessarily conflict with action and a desire to achieve. Discard the idea of experiential improvement and pursue your goals out of a sense of duty and respect for being.
