17 lies you have been told about success
When we start believing these lies, we start impregnating yourselves with wrong seeds. And wrong seeds lead to wrong fruits.
Raw and Real: 17 lies you have been told about life
That rich = success. Lie. Rich = financial freedom. Success = doing things the way you want to do, living life the way you want to, mostly at a mental level.
That you will be happy once you become successful. Lie. You must be happy and then you will be successful.
That success will heal your childhood trauma. Lie. You have to heal it inspite of success, not because of it.
That you will get more respect because of success. Well if you do, is it really success?
That you will have more time once you become successful. If you want more time, make more time. No matter where you are.
That success is a place to go to. Nope. Success is an emotion that you must feel just like joy, on a daily basis.
That Taylor Swift is successful, you are not. Nope. You are successful the moment you think the thoughts you want to, deal with unwanted thoughts like an adult, and live your days on your own terms.
That your family is responsible for your success or lack of it. Lie again. You have to earn your success. Sometimes that even means becoming distant from your family.
That success makes you more confident. Actually, it is partially true. But again, should you not be confident of yourself nonetheless?
That an international trip makes you successful. False. An international trip gives you stamp on your passport, not a stamp on your peace.
That if you have an LV bag and if your friend has Gucci bag, you are more successful than them. False again. I guess if someone has a ₹200 purse secured from a flea market that they love while they have 10000X of that money in their net worth but they have the controlling power to not go behind FOMO, that imo is success.
That success is that promotion. Lie. My friend, of all things in life, corporate promotions are meant for your manager to look good. Yes, please go for them. I love them too. Just that, lack of it despite your effort is rarely
That success means your friends and loved ones will validate you. Sad but false. Sometimes we have to get acquainted with the fact that our loved ones might never validate us, and that is something that might never change despite accolades.
That success means living a loud life. False. I have met some of the happiest (thus, the most successful) people living a very quiet life.
That success means being cunning. Lie again my friend. True success means being simple as a seed, and not having hidden meanings in every act.
That success means taking advantage of people. Nope. Truly successful people never crush others. Which is true success btw.
Lastly, that someone else could tell you about success (oh, the irony). Blatant, baseless and blasphemous lie. You decide what is success for you. But just make sure it makes you a better human, not a human with ears that don’t listen, heart that doesn’t empathise and brain that does not adjust.
Full disclaimer: I am not against materialistic things. I am myself a consumer of those. Just that, I hope we all understand that things buy us convenience, travel buys us movement and accolades buy us social standing.
You can have all of these and still be empty. You can have none of these and still be at peace.
My best bet is being at peace and being happy, and that is where all the materialistic things really follow you my friend.
PS: Last weekend I went for a walk in a park in my hometown, and clicked these beautiful pictures. For me, success is being able to take these walks every day.
The bottom picture is the sitting area of a HUGE park, with a perimeter of around 2.5 kms, and lush green trees. The top picture is a spot exactly opposite the gate of that park, behind which is also the Seven Wonders Park, where “sun mere humsafar” of Alia and Varun was shot. If you zoom into that, you might see a tower, which is “Eiffel Tower” :)
On that note, please go for a walk this weekend.
There is no one who did not benefit from a walk.
And, I will see you next weekend my friend.
Nishtha Gehija
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