Why I’m No Longer Chasing My Best Life

For years, I was chasing something I couldn’t quite define.

I thought it was called “my best life.” You know, the one social media tells you you’re supposed to have: the perfect career, the enviable travel photos, the stylish home, the glowing skin, the picture-perfect relationship.

I filled my days with to-do lists designed to “optimize” every moment. I worked extra hours, read self-help books, took online courses, and scrolled endlessly through Instagram for “inspiration.” But the more I chased this elusive best life, the more exhausted I became.

At some point, I realized: I wasn’t chasing my best life—I was chasing someone else’s.

The Problem with “Best”

The phrase “my best life” sounds empowering… until you try to live it.

It’s never fully defined, so you’re always chasing a moving target. If you finally get the job, then it’s time to redecorate your apartment. If you finally take the trip, you start thinking about the next one before you’ve even unpacked.

It’s not just ambition—it’s a kind of self-imposed treadmill. And the worst part? You don’t notice you’re running in circles because everyone around you seems to be running too.

The Moment I Stepped Off the Treadmill

One night, after a long day of trying to “keep up,” I found myself scrolling through a lifestyle influencer’s feed. She was in Italy, posing on a balcony in a silk dress, holding a coffee cup just so.

For a second, I thought, That’s the life I want.

But then I laughed—because I don’t even drink coffee.

That’s when it hit me: I was borrowing other people’s dreams without checking if they actually fit me.

What I Realized

“Best” Is Subjective

What’s best for one person might be boring, exhausting, or meaningless to another. A dream life isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Chasing “Best” Can Make You Miss “Good”

I was so focused on the big picture of my imagined perfect life that I overlooked the small, beautiful things in my current one.

It’s a Recipe for Burnout

Constantly striving for more without ever feeling satisfied is draining—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Shift: From “Best” to “Enough”

Instead of chasing my “best life,” I decided to focus on building a life that feels enough. Not perfect. Not impressive. Just deeply satisfying in ways that matter to me.

Here’s what changed:

1. I Defined My Own Success

No more vague “living my best life” goals. Now my definition of success includes things like having free time for hobbies, feeling healthy, and maintaining relationships that matter.

2. I Slowed Down

I stopped trying to fill every moment with productivity. Rest became a priority, not a reward.

3. I Practiced Gratitude Daily

I started writing down three things I’m grateful for every night. It sounds simple, but it rewired my brain to notice what’s already good instead of obsessing over what’s missing.

4. I Curated My Influences

I unfollowed accounts that made me feel like I was behind and followed people who inspire me to live authentically, not perfectly.

The Freedom of Letting Go

When I stopped chasing my “best life,” I expected to feel like I was giving up. Instead, I felt free.

Free from the pressure to impress.

Free from the need to keep up.

Free from the endless race toward a future that never seemed to arrive.

Now, instead of living for a someday, I’m living for today. And it turns out, today has a lot to offer if you’re paying attention.

A Life That Feels Good from the Inside

I still set goals. I still dream big. But I no longer measure my life against an unrealistic standard. My energy now goes into making my days feel good from the inside, not just look good from the outside.

That might mean saying no to opportunities that don’t align with my values. It might mean spending a weekend reading instead of going out because I genuinely enjoy it.

And you know what? I’m happier for it.

If You’re Tired of Chasing Your “Best Life”

Here’s what I’d say:

Redefine “best” so it’s yours—not society’s, not Instagram’s, not your neighbor’s.

Ask yourself what’s enough instead of what’s next.

Stop comparing your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty.

Make space for joy in the now, not just the future.

Because sometimes, the life you have right now—flawed, messy, imperfect—is already better than you realize.

Final Thought:

Chasing your “best life” can make you forget the life you already have. True fulfillment comes when you stop running toward an imaginary finish line and start living right where you are.