We all have an illusion of what success is. An illusion that is set about by society. Society have set about standards about what you must do to be defined as a success. It is through this illusion that many of us get trapped into. Society places so much emphasise on money, on youth, on being able to contribute to society, on looking better, on having a “high title.”

I am not in the position to say that these emphasises are bad, I am just implying that if they are achieved with the intention to please others, it would be of little importance. Society have defined success in such a way in which we rank our material wealth, our status and through other standards. Throughout the years, I have slowly realised what this has done to individuals. It has slowly begin to dawn on them that the need to please others and society is so important that they even forgo what is most important to them to fulfill what is most important to be a part of society. That people-pleasing culture.

Many people which I happen to know personally happen to go for a goal (i.e material success) with so much persistance, that when once they have achieved it, the “so what” syndrome arises. The feeling where after we worked so hard for something, we wonder why did we ever go after it at the first place. I always feel that the answer to that issue is because they knew it consciously or subconsciously, by achieving that particular goal, it would please others. Achieving goals like being good in studies, being financially secure, holding a high position in a company, having a big house.

I heard of a saying that ” Success without fulfillment is failure. “

How true is that. What is the use of us achieving a certain goal if we are not happy at all ? Or probably for someone else to be happy ?

That why it comes back to the topic, for which I believe success is self-defined. The ability to express ourselves in a way which we want. We have to set about what are those things which are truly important to us. Those things deep down which are of utmost important to us. Not placed about by society, by our parents, by our peers, by our teachers. Only by ourselves.

To be able to express ourselves fully. To be able to wake up each morning with the zest for life. To be able to go after success which really fulfills us.

It takes some time to really think about it, no doubt. But is worth it. Life’s a brief candle, as the saying goes.

Advertisement