Surveys indicate that most people feel as if life is moving faster and faster, a sentiment that while not technically true, is usually the result of doing too much in too little time.

Part of the problem is that most Americans believe the secret to happiness is having more, going faster or working harder. In reality, happiness is a byproduct of balance.

To be fair, finding balance is hard. Our natural tendency is to overreach, to go too far, and to want too much. It’s like the reporter who asked billionaire John D. Rockefeller “How much money is enough?” Mr. Rockefeller answered, “Just a little bit more.”

We all answer, “Just a little bit more,” in some area of life. It can be money, gambling, drugs, alcohol. For others, it’s food, shopping, or sex. For you, maybe it’s something else, but your desire for more is out of balance.

Even too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Our bodies need water but drinking too much can be fatal. Fire warms our skin — but it burns us if we get too close. Healthy people prioritize balance because they recognize that more is not always the answer to happiness. They understand if something rules your life, too much is never enough. Going faster, having more, and working harder have their place. But they also have their limitations. None of it will satisfy the deepest needs of our soul. And none of it will bring us happiness.

Originally published in the Higher Ground.