Imagine that you’d solved all your problems—your health is great, your relationships are solid, work’s going fine, money’s no issue. Everything’s sorted. Would you be content and carefree? At peace? Or would your mind just quietly come up with a fresh list of things to worry about?
Gilda Radner once said,
“It’s always something.”
Most of us will probably never get to a point where every single “something” is wrapped up and finished with. Life doesn’t really work that way—it’s an ongoing work in progress. We’re finite human with only so much time, energy, and skill. So maybe we’re not even meant for some perfect, problem-free version of life. And even if it was possible… would it actually feel that great?
Thinking too much about some future where everything’s sorted often just takes us out of the present moment. It sets us up to be disappointed. And, honestly, it might even be boring. That constant pressure to make today better than yesterday can end up making us feel worse. The closer we get to “perfect,” the more impossible it seems.
And then, if we ever did get there—whatever “there” is—what would be left? No problems, no friction. But also, no drive, no learning, no surprise. Where would stuff like purpose, excitement, or even joy come from? Plus, let’s be real—software can already do a lot of the jobs and tasks we used to spend our time on. If nothing ever needed fixing or figuring out, what would actually make us feel useful? Isn’t problem solving one of the joys of life whether as part of your job or a hobby.
I’m not saying your current problems don’t matter. They do. But maybe the idea that we should be aiming for a life without any problems at all—that’s the bit that needs questioning. There’s a saying: Beyond the mountains, more mountains. Life keeps going. And weirdly, that might be the good bit. The climbing, not the arriving.
Inspired by “Meditations for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman