How to combat greener grass syndrome

I thought I was sick. My doctors said there is no way I could recover from this disease. Hey, is it that bad? They said yes. I was waiting in silence for my death until my genuine curiosity brought me back to life. Listen, do you have the antidote against everything? The doctors said no.

This was not a little stomach pain, this was a big deal. I had to find the antidote against everything. The problem was that my doctors were unknown about the root of this disease.

Stupid doctors. But I will find the antidote.

Their advice was to take paracetamol. You will feel better, the doctors said. Nope. This is life or death. Paracetamol will not help, but give me a summer vacation, and I will return with the antidote.

- The antidote I was searching for looked a bit like this one.

My journey brought to some serious life lessons. I guess I am addicted to life lessons and if you could turn them into a drug, I would be very high right now.

I knew this summer was going to be different. The long days spent at the beach will be replaced with me in a Sherlock Holmes outfit searching for the antidote with a big loop.

I must say that my primary objective was to understand how to combat my terrible disease before it was too late.

While I was packing my bags on my way to my beloved country, I decided that I was not returning without the antidote. I had to find it at all cost. With a cure for everything, I will be unstoppable and overcome every future challenge.

The big root of this disease?It took me by surprise when I encounter the answer in a stinky three-hour flight in a small Ryanair plane.

Here is a medical certificate directly from Dr. Pagliara.

  • The thought that the grass is always greener on the other side. I gave this disease a name, the green grass syndrome. Main symptoms include; lack of satisfaction, depression, sadness, hopelessness, anxiety and the list continues to infinity and beyond.

However, is it always the case that the grass is greener on the other side? Or was it all an illusion? My genuine curiosity directs me to investigate if it was indeed the case.

I had to confirm something that had bothered me for months.

My doctors were right. It’s difficult to recover from this disease, but here is what I did to find the antidote to this terrible illness.

1. Investigate and investigate, did I mention investigate?

When standing in a field, we can see dead withered grass near our feet but we can’t see those at a far distance. Green being more prominent is the only color visible to us. The truth is this; when you have one foot in two different fields of grass, it’s difficult to function. You have to decide on which part of the field you want to be. It can only be one of them, remember that. This particular part came with a significant cost for me, but it was it worth in the end.

During the summer I had to leave my field to see for myself if the other side was indeed greener. After inspecting, I confirmed that the other field was not greener, and I was happy to return my old ground. You have to experience the other side for yourself, no book nor course can tell you have it feels.

Only by investigating you will know for sure, and eventually the greener grass syndrome will be cured.

2. Minimize regret.

In the root of the grass is greener syndrome there is regret. Regret is by far my biggest fear in life. Living knowing that I could do something different but failed to do so, hunts me day in and day out.

By investigating the other side, you will minimize your overall regret. Again, a liberating feeling will be unlocked when regret is gone.

If you investigate and conclude that the grass is not greener you have minimized your regret. Congratulation, you can now finally tell all your friends that the other side sucked and that there is nothing to regret.

A wise man once said: “It’s better to regret what you have done than what you haven’t”.

3. Practice gratefulness.

There is nothing more meaningful than living the present moment and accepting the way it is. One of the most disturbing thoughts is to be elsewhere, in an imaginary place, also known as a “better” place. After I confirmed that the grass not greener on the other side I started to appreciate my present moment. The present moment is the only real thing we will ever experience and being appreciative unleashes the power of the present.

It was a illuminating discovery. The constant thought that there was something better evaporated, and I could finally focus solely on the present.

Maybe the reason why the grass looks greener on the other side is that I forgot to water my own. Being grateful for the present moment is by far the best method to combat the greener grass syndrome.

The summer vacation is now over, and I have found the antidote to everything. I am cured, but what about you?

Michelangelo Pagliara

Written by

An entrepreneur on a long journey, VC Analyst @kpnventures

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