Life Lessons

Never Settle For Second Best

9:33 AM

Never Settle For Second Best
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
-John 10:10



Never Settle For Second Best

We have always planned and wanted what's best for us. Nobody wakes up in the morning and seeks to make the worst decision and make his life as miserable as he could.

We all have dreams. We all have aspirations.

Remember when you were a kid full of dreams, and believed that you will live in that 3-story house you drew on a paper?

Why most people cannot and will not turn their aspirations and goals into reality, I could enumerate a few reasons. But, the most common mistake we subconsciously make is that we settle.

We settle for second best. 
We settle for what is comfortable. 
We settle for what is easy. 

We settle for what we think is best for us and what other people say we deserve.

We choose not to pursue that dream we have always wanted; to be a renowned chef, to travel or perform, because we have settled to just dream. We have become too content. We have settled for what is good enough.

Or maybe we have changed priorities along the way.
Or we have lost hope after five rejections.
Or we think we're too old or too late to pursue a certain dream.
Or maybe the people close to us discouraged us and made us believe that we will not amount to it. And we believed them more than we believe ourselves.

Or maybe, we have better reasons to sacrifice our own dreams to give way to the dreams of those we love. In that case, I'd like to salute you for your selflessness. You are an unsung hero. The wind beneath their wings.


It is okay to be thankful for what is there. Contentment is key to achieving peace of mind.

It is not okay however, to settle for what is there knowing that you can do more, give more and be more.

If I could give my younger self a piece of advice when it comes to chasing dreams, it is this:

You were made to do great things. Never settle for second best.



Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share.
Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks!

Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email

Wait! I've got more stories for you...

40 comments

Trouble posting your comment in the box below? Please comment here instead.

  1. Wonderful and thought provoking article.. I loved it and learned new thing....

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have to say that I achieved my biggest dream. It sounds corny but I wanted to be a mother. I have four children I am so proud of and happy to have the gift of being their mother. I did not know that I wanted to be a grandmother but that is even better. It may not be a lofty desire but I truly wanted it with all my being. Everything else in my life is extra blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent post containing a provocative dream. "If I could give my younger self a piece of advice..." , I'd tell my 22-year-old 1971 self to buy gold at $35 per ounce. I believe it's about $1200 per ounce now. Beyond that minor adjustment, everything's gone along pretty well. Life is full of time to think things out and choose futures that best include us. Pursuit of happiness is not a frantic process and can be accomplished on a modest budget. Found a job I didn't mind too much and worked from there. These are good times.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great word of encouragement for the new year. Happy new year

    ReplyDelete
  5. The same thought made me drop my graduate course and prepare for a professional course :-/
    It was my dream to become a doctor and I ditched it :-(
    But no worries, I am preparing for it now :)
    Better late than never :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I believe this is true... I settled a few times in my life because of what other people have said... I am always thinking my circumstances limit me but I have come to find that I am the only one that has limited me... It is hard to break outside those limitations... but not impossible...

    I hope you are having a great start to the new year... have a lovely weekend ahead xox

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely post!!! You inspiring me and it is so good to read this post now, at the beginning of New Year!!! Wishing you a wonderful New Year!!! Liuba x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hiya Lux....You know when I was reading this part, 'We have settled for what is good enough.'...Something hit me....That is just plain human nature...We don't like to stress it as long as we are comfortable and that isn't right....I believe that no matter how comfortable we are in Phase 7, we still gotta try and get to Phase 8 and enjoy another level of comfort...buh humans are scared cuz they are not sure that they can get the same amount of comfort that they are getting in Phase 7 and they are afraid of losing Phase 7 which is certain for Phase 8 which is uncertain........I for one, believe in evolving.....I have also been someone who doesn't settle for second best....I mean, why settle for second best when I can get or have the best right?

    Lovely post mami...Love me some Lux.. Happy New Year mami...(I didn't get to wish you that yesterday)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great stuff here, SuperLux. Think of yourself as the gatekeeper of your mind. Be careful what you allow to pass through the gate because it can influence your thoughts and behaviors for years to come. At the same time do not let your own internal voice defeat you. Listen to the voice that reminds you of all the times in your life you have succeeded and let that voice inspire you. People who only dream and never achieve are people who want success to come easily. In order to have a better life than you have now you must be willing to do more than you are doing now. Happy Friday, dear SuperLux, and have a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Striving to excel is the best in life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amazing read..thank you for sharing..we deifinitely should fight for the things we want in life

    ReplyDelete
  12. EXCELLENT post! Very thought provoking, which is GOOD. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I loved your post, and thank you so much for visiting my blog...I'll be back. After many years, I am pursuing dreams, but sometimes it's a matter of funding to get the job done, i.e.traveling. Am enjoying writing and blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  14. True, main reason to settle the next best is lack of belief , thanks for the inspiring post :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amazing post and good advice.

    Jasmine x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Amazing post and I wish you all the best for the new year.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Amen to that! Very inspirational and motivating.

    ReplyDelete
  18. You're post is so beautifully written and I love the title itself! Never settle for the second best! How true! Have a lovely year love!
    Xx,
    Nilu Yuleena
    BIG hair LOUD mouth

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello, happy new year.

    Very interesting post.

    It is true that when we were young we had dreams of making it big. Some how over a period of time we forgot our aim in life and settled for something below par because we did not want to try hard, make the effort, and became satisfied with what we had. We start comparing us with less fortunate people and feel happy that we are better than many other millions of people in this world.This is what most of us do. We get into the comfort zone and don't want to take risks.

    People who do well in life are never satisfied with what they have, ready to take risks and make determined effort to achieve more. They believe in the saying that SUCCESS IN NEVER ENDING. When they scale one peak they look for higher peak to climb.

    Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  20. You have certainly given me something to think about! A lot of the things that I am not are because I don't think I can be, so I settle for not being the best me I could be. You really have got me thinking -- thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well said ... after all we only have one life to live ... why not live it in the best possible way? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great post, I will try not to settle for second best this year! Happy new year!
    www.effortlesslady.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. You are an inspiring writer - ...some day when I have lots of time to spare i will go through some of your archives and read some more. Very motivational post - I live a nice life but i had definitely settled - ...2015 is a year to expect the best of everything. Have a great year!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I believe this, live your life to the fullest & the very best of you ~

    ReplyDelete
  25. excellant advice. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I guess we live and we learn. I think the key is to understand that we learn from our mistakes as will as our successes. My husband's mantra is "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Although this runs the risk of sounding like a trite aphorism, he has led a successful life by doing just that.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Awesome post! Happy new year dear, wishing you a very fun and successful 2015! :)

    xoxo;
    WHATKENNYHEARTS.COM
    Like On Facebook
    Follow On Bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great words, lovely post!!!
    I wish you all the best!!!
    Kisses, Paola.

    Expressyourself

    My Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  29. If you follow your advice, you will achieve the goal.

    There are many factors. I had dreams now they are pleasant wishes I once had.

    ReplyDelete
  30. A very timely post what with New Year resolutions

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love this post! Never settle for second best...that's a great message. I'll do my best not to settle for anything that is not THE BEST. Happy New Year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. We are kindred spirits in many ways. We both want to go after what we feel we deserve and aren't willing to settle. I loved this post, and judging by the comments there are many others who did too. Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you for sharing on How To Get Organized At Home, this is a thought provoking post so thank you for making me stop and think:)

    ReplyDelete
  34. love this, really inspiring!

    xx danielle // shades of danielle // bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thank you for posting to Motivation Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Never settle for second best, no matter how desperate things may seem. God has the power to restore and bring the best things in our lives.

    ReplyDelete