> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gilespcroft.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # I'll be happy when… - URL: https://www.gilespcroft.com/ill-be-happy-when/ - Published: 2025-12-06T07:00:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-18T10:43:25.000Z - Description: Four words that ruin lives… and yet we don't even notice 😩 - Author: Giles P Croft - Tags: Goals, Presence, Productivity, Psychology, Real stories, Cycling, Richard Carlson, IMPLICATIONS, Careers Here's something I bet you do. And I'll tell you what – I'm confident this is a bet I'd win, because it's **humanOS** 101. We *all* do it. *All* the time. And why is nobody talking about it? Because we've taken it for granted – me too! This one's so obvious (and so damned *pernicious*) that I'm guilty of not talking about it enough. But it came up in a coaching conversation today, so let's do just that. ## The natural tendency We're future-looking creatures. We have goals. This is no bad thing. I'm not here to vilify goals. I can prove it to you, look: [Looking forwardIt’s easy to vilify future-thinking, but it’s not \*bad\* per se… you can use it to your advantage! 🔮![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/icon/DR_Lockup-Black-3-100.png)The Daily RemindersGiles P Croft![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/thumbnail/2025-04-24-Looking-forward.jpg)](https://www.gilespcroft.com/looking-forward/) I love me a goal. Especially when there's food at the end of it 😋 But if we don't remain aware that a goal: - is made of thought - isn't actually a ‘thing’ - can never turn out exactly how we (i.e. the mind) imagine(s) - won't deliver the kind of peace of mind we seek, long term …then we can easily become a slave to them. We start living our lives with a subtle *“I'll be happy when…”* seeking-script running in the background. ## Workplace goals My client works in an organisation where goals are *de rigeur*. It's probably the same for you, even if you work for yourself. The most common scenario is this (see if it resonates for you): - You're given something to aim towards (an outcome, that you may even be measured against) by your boss - You're told you have ***x*** amount of time and ***y*** amount of resource to achieve this outcome, and you're let loose on it - You do your best, and feel like you have a sense of purpose – *I'm going to achieve this goal!* The hard work and problem-solving all feels worthwhile. - You're excited to be working towards this goal – it's what you're here for, and this one is bigger and better than the last. *When *this* goal is achieved, everything will be alright!* *All the stress and worry will be worth it!* - After a lot of toil and trouble, the [finish line](https://www.gilespcroft.com/finish-lines/) is in sight, and eventually you achieve your goal. You feel fantastic! 🥳 🙌🏻 🎊 - The next day (or sooner) there's a sense of anticlimax and a feeling that the achievement of this goal hasn't *quite* delivered the levels of satisfaction, wellbeing and peace that you'd been imagining - You hit a bit of a slump. Maybe the goal wasn't big enough? But never mind, because the next day… - You're given something to aim towards (an outcome, that you may even be measured against) by your boss. 😆 And on it goes. (In this scenario, if you're self-employed like I am, [*you're* the sodding boss](https://www.gilespcroft.com/whos-your-boss/) which makes it 10 times as bad, because the I'll-be-happy-when goals you set *yourself* are frankly ridiculous.) ## So why doesn't the high last? It's because… Oh, hang on, I need to be a bit careful and sneaky here, because minds are very wedded to the utility and importance of goals, and if I go into Teacher Mode™ 👨🏻‍🏫—just telling you how it is—it may well rebel against this one. So let's pose it as a question, instead, see how that lands. Tell you what, I'll swear too – make you laugh a bit. That always helps information to go in. 🤔 ****What if…** the high you feel upon achieving a goal has **nothing* to do with the goal itself and **everything* to do with the mind shutting the fuck up for a bit? There. I said it. I mean, stands to reason, doesn't it? Because we know that: > 🔑 **Key Message.** 100% of our felt experience of life comes from (The Principle of) Thought and 0% comes from our circumstances. We also know that: > 🔑 **Key Message.** ALL problems are created by the mind. So the mind—ego—has its little *‘I'll be happy when…’* seeking-script running in the background all the while we're working towards our goal. It serves as a sort of carrot-on-a-stick: the promise of a ‘better tomorrow’. And then it gets what it wants. It briefly stops seeking, and during that short window, it shuts up. You feel contentment. And then it starts up again, 10 minutes later. Only *this* time, it needs *more*. It's a game you can't win. ## It's not just work stuff I hope it's fairly obvious to you, from this work-place example, how easy it is to fall into the trap of attaching our happiness and peace of mind to goals. But, like I said at the outset, this is something we *all* do, *all* the time! 😱 My client—who's had a [few sessions with me](https://www.gilespcroft.com/individuals) now, and is getting their eye in, and reaping the rewards, overheard a colleague literally coming out with the phrase: > “I'll be happy when I've got all this stuff out of the way and it's Christmas.” …and we both laughed and said, > “Why wait?!” 🤷🏻‍♂️ Because here's the thing about “all that stuff” – in this example, and in general: 1. When you've finished it all, there'll be ***more* stuff**. Guaranteed. There *is* [no finish line](https://www.gilespcroft.com/finish-lines/)! 2. The image your mind created about **how life will be** when all the stuff is done, is a work of fiction. It has never existed and it never will. 3. If you let go of the *I'll-be-happy-when* story and **choose instead to be happy now**… you'll find your dread of actually doing all the stuff will go away, and you'll be way more productive! It's win-win!! 🙌🏻 ## Final words I'm going to leave the final words to [Richard Carlson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard%5FCarlson%5F%28author%29?ref=gilespcroft.com), whose amazing book, [*You Can Be Happy No Matter What*](https://amzn.to/3Yb1Stf?ref=gilespcroft.com), has an entire chapter devoted to reaping the rewards of being more present. And on this matter, he says, > *“When you focus your attention on the present moment, instead of moments that are over or yet to be, you'll maximise your productivity, creativity, and ability to accomplish your goals.* > > *Too many future-oriented or past-oriented thoughts cloud your vision and distract you from what you are doing.* > > *The more present moment-oriented you become, the easier it will be to stay on track, get focused, concentrate, and achieve your goals.* > > *In short, an undistracted mind is able to make wise, appropriate decisions.”* I can't top that! 💟 Giles SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY REMINDERS newsletter [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/2025/12/DR_Lockup-Black-1.png)](#/portal/signup) Want to start **your* days with helpful, insightful content like this? The Daily Reminder is a quick, lighthearted email that arrives in your inbox, to help keep you grounded in reality, so that you get to **‘Think less, and live more.’* **“They feel like a moment of stillness in a world of madness.” \~* Neil, UK **“One of those small things with big impact. Honestly, just sign up!”* \~ Paula, UK [GET YOURS NOW ](#/portal/signup) ### Book recommendation [You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles for Ke…Five “principles” designed to achieve happiness in the …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/icon/favicon-15.ico)GoodreadsRichard Carlson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/thumbnail/100287.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100287.You%5FCan%5FBe%5FHappy%5FNo%5FMatter%5FWhat?ref=gilespcroft.com) Short and sweet and completely life-changing. I have gifted this book to **more* clients!