Deferred Happiness Syndrome

I heard this on a podcast on Tuesday whilst in the gym 

And then it was reinforced speaking with a gent who had recently lost a loved one 

And then again on our podcast when talking goals with a fellow property investor 

Deferred happiness syndrome comes from a gent called Gurwinder Bhogal 

“The common feeling that your life has not begun, that your present reality is a mere prelude to some

idyllic future."

"This idyll is a mirage that’ll fade as you approach, revealing that the prelude you rushed through was in

fact the one to your death.” 

Deep for a property newsletter, I know… 

He goes on to say that we live life as if it has not actually started

That we are moving towards that ideal life where we can ‘really’ start living 

When I have this house

That job 

This much in passive income 

Once the kids have left home 

I am guilty of it, we all are, I would guess

But that point never arrives, it always changes

So why not embrace the now? 

Chatting to a property developer

This was reinforced 

One of the largest developers in Birmingham, who started out selling sandwiches on a road side food van

Me - Why did you get into property? (thinking it was a passion)

He - I read a lot of business/self help books, and they talked about routes to making money and

goal setting - property was one of them. So I set a goal to reach a £1m property portfolio.

He has gone on to deliver over 4,260 properties, with a value of more than £400m

So what happened? 

He - well, your goals change don’t they. You set bigger targets, hit the next mile stone.

Me - will you stop or take a step back? 

He - no 

Was he experiencing ‘deferred happiness syndrome’? 

I don’t know, didn’t ask 

A fine balancing act then, between living for, and enjoying the now

Whilst building for the future, to give yourself and your family a better life 

A life that you can move towards…

And want to move towards 

Think a friend would like this? Forward it their way.

Have a great weekend ahead,

Callum