I have had a hard time reconciling the things I want, why I want them, and what success really means to me.

Last time, I talked about pressure and how we can waste time by avoiding it. This might feel like a contradiction if you thought that pressure was about how much you have or should have. It’s not.

I don’t think we fully grasp what awareness has done to the standards in our lives. How much influence other people’s lives and choices have on us. I’m not against social media. It has its perks. It makes you laugh, and it shows you just how much talent and creativity exist in the world. In many ways, it paints a beautiful picture of humanity.

But it also quietly reshapes what we think is normal, what we think is necessary, and even what we think we should want.

I’m willing to stand by this: not everything needs to be shared. Not everyone needs to know the gender of your baby, how your day went, or every choice you make. There is value in sharing experiences, both good and bad, especially when it helps others learn or grow. But it raises a question: what is the original intention? Is it to give, or does it slowly start to take away from reality?

Think about the things you want right now, the things you’re working towards. Why do you want them? Is it because everyone your age does, because it would make your life easier, or because it genuinely means something to you?

What does success mean to you?

If money shows up in your answer, that’s not wrong. Money affects the quality of life. It creates comfort, access, and sometimes freedom. But it is still just a standard, not the definition of success.

There is no universal answer to what success is. It is personal. And if you don’t come to terms with that, you’ll keep chasing something that never feels like enough.

Think about an artist. They don’t start with a price tag, they start with the work. Or an athlete. They don’t win before they play the game. The outcome comes after the process.

What the world often presents as success is the end result. But the end is only a small part of it. The process, the path, the way you choose to live and build your life, that is where success actually exists.

You are not here only to make money. The means matter just as much as the end, if not more. The moment your definition of success becomes identical to everyone else’s, you might be running a race that was never meant for you.

Song of the moment – The door by Teddy Swims

Thank you for being here, till next time my friend❤️