“Aha!” moments can be disastrous. If we spend our lives going from one aha moment to the next, we’ll miss out on the simple yet splendid day-to-day routine of life. Admittedly, day-to-day routines can sometimes feel apathetic and unfulfilling. But they’re how we make progress to get to the next level of our maturity.
Aha moments, by the nature of their experience, are addictive and thrilling. They make us feel special, as if something unique is happening only to us, something so mind-blowing that greatness, itself, is calling us to know the secrets to the universe, maybe even the secret to happiness.
Ironically, these moments can rob us of true happiness, if we understand happiness to be both the means and end of virtuous living. And if there’s one virtue that stands out among the rest, which is inextricably tied to the day-to-day routine of life, it’s patience.
But aha moments are not all bad. They can serve as a motivation marker to continue with a rhythmic, diligent work-ethic. Or they can be a catalyst to change. This latter explanation is what is commonly considered a bonafide aha moment. And when it happens to you, it feels glorious—like you’ve crossed the threshold from a meager existence to a destiny of regality.
But until then, may we continue to stay on task, working patiently and perseveringly to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. Because we deserve to be successful, if we believe we’re worth celebrating and not left to the hallow highs of self-sabotage.