W E L C O M E T O T H E H A M S T E R W H E E L of S U C C E S S

 

The current ecosystem of the Western World and The Jingoistic Framework of the United States of America is heavily centered around the awareness of Success. We tend to put so called successful people on a fancy pedestal as if it is some type of shiny poodle to aspire to. But Big Letter S "Success" is such an amorphous concept hinging on an a construct that is almost doomed to fail in how we see ourselves moving in the world. Success with the big "S" is centered around the concept of comparison in which we know can only create more conflict and inadequate feelings within ourselves if we feel like we simply aren't doing our "best". If we don't feel like we are successful because society or the people around us are telling that we aren't, what does that say about the general culture that centers its greatness around the concept of success?

The truth about success is that it is a very subjective construct. It is all based on how much power and attention we give to it and how each individual chooses to define it. Not everyone craves the trappings of having a lot of money and a bunch of stuff and properties to flaunt our social status against the world around us. In fact, people think they want success for themselves when in reality that are pursuing a generic idea of success that was told would make them feel happier, more fulfilled and content in many forms and facets. This is what they call Mimetic Desire. We think we know what we want when we want it and ultimately set a course to move towards what we think we want only to later realize that maybe it wasn't wanted all along when we finally "get there". It's an elaborate rouse.

We are told to "work hard" and put our minds to things that will ultimately bring us success in the future. We are told that the suffering and delay of gratification is worth it. Grind, hustle. Do whatever you need to do to capture that flag of success and you will be adored, respected and rewarded for your efforts. There is something to creating a disciplined structure around your life to reach certain goals or physical attainments, but when it starts to become a major part of your identity or who you "think" you are then it creates a festering conflict much akin to a virus or bug in the human condition.

How sick is a culture when you are pressured to suffer just to maybe someday be a "success"?

In reality, this western concept of success is created to sustain the system that was thrusted upon all who live under it. It is more of a feature than a bug, but that doesn't mean that that feature has anything to do with progress, awareness and introspection. Just think of all the people that mindlessly follow a path because they have been told that there would be a reward at the end of the tunnel. Seems like carrot on a stick propaganda and smells like a delicious meal that is only destined to rot and decompose. So you have people in a race towards success and they hold themselves to their own accomplishments. Flaunting at every opportunity and holding back their small wins when they think they aren't enough because their identity is wrapped around the whole idea that comparing your productive output to the outside modern world is the only way to live. 

As westerners, we love to think linearly. We think we must suffer through in order to reach a state of being where that is no more or at least mitigated in some sense. "We do this now and we get this later" type of energy. In a way there is no act of becoming, there is only present moment, but that doesn't mean we can't plan and dream, right? Correct. We can make plans follow them and see progress in a material sense, but when we make that the main part for our own well being, that is where we get off track. We don't have to "work hard" to prove our worth if that is not what we want. We can work just enough to provide for the things that we each individually want to do. This doesn't have to coincide with climbing the corporate ladder or making more money. Some people want this mostly for the sense of security and a modest well being where you don't have to worry about surviving or fretting over paying bills. Going towards higher paid positions can be honorable, but not everyone wants to or can do it no matter how much "hard work" they put in. 

In a rat race, the winner gets the cheese, but what happens when the cheese is gone? Get more cheese?

Just imagine trying to convince an artist to become a surgeon. You make your case. You show how much you must go through for at the end to have such a nice lifestyle. But of course you leave out the catch. The catch being sacrifices made to accomplish what society might deem as successful. But how would a surgeon who is only in it for the security, material and monetary compensation feel about himself at the end of the day? Would all that "hard work" be worth it if the passion was never there in the first place? The artist who is passionate about creating is not made for that work. Not everyone can be a surgeon or make six figures and not only is that ok, it is a necessity. Success is inherently subjective. 

Chasing the general idea of success seems like a prison to me. Always kicking the can. On to the next goal. A loop that may lead to a lack of self awareness deriving value from external achievement. Inner reflects the outer and visa versa. 

If chasing The Traditional Mode of Success gives you a sense of purpose then great. There is reason it is not for everyone. 

The moment you start to compare your idea of success to the mimetic-desire-laden-society-version of success, then in a way you fail. It is indeed a trap and fast ager.  

It's more about how you FEEL about success than how you DEFINE success. 

IF YOU FEEL SUCCESSFUL, THEN YOU SIMPLY ARE SUCCESSFUL.

There is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL for "Success". 

You do you, but don't derive your own sense of self value from external validation.

Ask yourself: "Why do I need external validation to determine or mold my own success?"

Hear this. If you feel successful by your own definition then that is enough. Act as if you are successful because you are successful in many ways. You don't need to have external value or validation from the outside world to justify how you see your own success. Success can be as small as completing an item on a todo list or producing a work that brings you monetary value. You see the problem lies when you adopt the "One Size Fits All" success approach. That implies a sense of societal pressure to get you to act a certain way. But is that what you really want to do? Is that what you FEEL like doing?

Since there is no real act of "becoming", one can be successful where they are and where they are even if they aren't at the place they want to be. Let's say you want to be a lawyer, but you don't see yourself as a successful lawyer until you being the process. Well the first step in that journey is a success. As soon as you commit to the journey, then you are a successful lawyer. You may not have awards or much experience yet, but do you really need all that to feel successful? All of that comes with time. Trust that process and don't hold yourself to other's benign "Success" standards. Unless of course, you want to. 

W E L C O M E   T O.   T H E   H A M S T E R  W H E E L of  S U C C E S S 

Round and Round We go,

Run, Run, Run.. Take a break. Take a sip of water. 

Then back on that wheel. Keep running like you were told. Feeling tired? Run harder. 

Feeling unmotivated? Run harder. The other guy over there is doing great on the "Wheel of Success". 

Why aren't you? You gotta catch up! 

The Wheel it never stops..

Unless of course..

You get off! 

-DG-