In over a dozen of years as a stress consultant, one of the most pervasive and destructive mental tendencies I've seen is that of focusing on what we want instead of what we have. It doesn't seem to make any difference how much we have; we just keep expanding our list of desires, which guarantees we will remain dissatisfied. The mind-set that say "I'll be happy when this desire is fulfilled" is the same mind-set that will repeat itself once that desire is met. Most of us do the very same thing; get something, then want something bigger an better. We want this it that. If we don't get what we want we keep thinking about all that we don't have--and we remain dissatisfied. If we do get what we want, we simply re-create the same thinking in our new circumstances. So, despite getting what we want, we still remain un-happy. Happiness can't be found when we are yearning for new desires. Luckily, there is a way to be happy. It involves changing the idea of our thinking from what we want to what we have. Rather than wishing your bf/gf were different, try thinking about his/her wonderful qualities. Instead of complaining about the house you live in, be grateful you actually have a roof to live under.
Make a note to yourself to start thinking more about what you have than what you want. If you do, your life will start appearing much better than before. For perhaps the first time in your life, you'll know whatnot means to feel satisfied.
