#4 True Success Is Personal

Living up to the expectations of others is like chasing your shadow. It may seem possible, but is ultimately futile and impossible, as it's something outside of your control.

So many of us spend our lives feeling unfulfilled and empty (i.e. hollow), because at some point we've lost touch with our desires and design for our own lives and have somehow compromised the best parts of ourselves. While compromise is a part of life for the sake of harmony in interpersonal relationships, it shouldn't come in to play when it comes to the direction of what makes you happy and what you want to offer to the world in terms of a career and what you value in life. We all at times have been subject to other people's view of what we should be doing, driving, wearing and doing with ourselves. It's way too common to get caught up in "keeping up with the Jones'". The truth is, no one has to live your life but you. Not your parents, significant others, neighbors or peers. You. If you hate being a lawyer and long to be an auto mechanic, who are you really hurting by sublimating your essence (you must be able to seperate passing fancy with your true essence though)? Who's the one getting hurt here, really? You.

Now this post isn't intended to be an endorsement to shirk responsibility of your roles in life. The spirit of this is you should be true to your authentic self and pursue a vision for yourself that is both personal and fulfilling on a level where you can contribute meaninfully and be the best version of yourself.

If it's simply not practical from a career standpoint (for instance I don't think it would be practical to spontaneously quit my job to become a writer without some kind of transition), it's possible to find an outlet for something that holds meaning and a measure of true satisfaction for you, at least as a hobby. Who's to say that maybe as you find your voice and stride that it may not blossom to become more than a that in the future? To be stuck in a lifestyle or job you hate for a prolonged period of time with no outlet is potentially toxic to your spirit in the long-term. As the old saying goes: A house divided against itself is destined to fall.