Hey again. So after talking about life, religion, and discrimination and all other chapters let's now switch to something everyone chases, dreams about, and sometimes gets obsessed with Success. It's one of those words that sounds shiny, exciting, and powerful. But what does it really mean?
From the moment we're born, society starts painting a picture of success. Good marks in school, a good college, a high-paying job, a big house, a fancy car, and then retire rich. That's the default formula. And if you don't follow it, you're seen as a failure.
But is that really success? Or just a checklist created by others?
I think success is personal. What feels like success to me might not mean anything to someone else.
For a student, success could be passing a tough exam. For an artist, it might be finishing a painting. For someone going through depression, just getting out of bed could be a win.
We're taught to chase big things. But in that chase, we forget the small wins. And trust me, small wins matter. They build up. They keep you moving.
Success is often measured in numbers marks, salary, followers, likes. But numbers don't always tell the full story. Someone might have millions in the bank but feel empty inside. Someone else might have just enough but feel deeply content.
Social media adds pressure. We see people our age achieving "big" things buying houses, launching startups, traveling the world. And suddenly we feel behind, even if we were happy five minutes ago.
We start comparing timelines. "They did this at 22. I'm 24 and still figuring things out." But life isn't a race. It's not a single track. Everyone moves at their own pace.
I've realized that success isn't just about reaching a goal. It's also about the journey. The lessons, the growth, the resilience. Sometimes, not getting what you want teaches you more than getting it ever could.
There's this pressure to "be someone" by a certain age. But who decided that? Who said 25 is the deadline for dreams? Some people peak at 18, others at 60. There's no rulebook.
Real success, I think, is about fulfillment. Are you doing something that feels meaningful? Are you growing? Are you kind to yourself and others? Are you proud of who you're becoming?
We also need to talk about failure because it's part of the process. Every successful person has failed. Multiple times. But we only see their highlight reels, not their struggles.
Failure doesn't mean the end. Sometimes it's just redirection. A sign that maybe this wasn't your path or maybe you need to try again, but differently.
We've been trained to avoid failure. But what if we saw it as a teacher instead of a punishment?
I've had moments where I felt like a failure. When my efforts didn't work out. When I disappointed myself. But those moments taught me resilience. They taught me how much I wanted something.
Success also isn't about doing it alone. No one does. Everyone has people mentors, friends, family, even strangers who support them in some way. Gratitude goes hand in hand with success.
Sometimes success is about impact. Did you help someone? Did your words make someone feel seen? Did your actions inspire others? That's success too.
Some of the most "successful" people in the world are humble. They don't flaunt their achievements. They keep learning, keep growing.
I've learned that ego is the enemy of true success. If you think you know everything, you stop learning. If you think you're better than others, you lose touch with reality.
Another thing I've stopped chasing approval. I used to think success was when people clapped for me. Now, I think success is when I clap for myself, quietly, knowing I did my best.
Sometimes, success is just not giving up. Even when it's hard. Even when you feel like it's pointless. If you keep going, that's success.
Success doesn't always feel like fireworks. Sometimes it feels like peace. Like finally being okay with who you are.
I used to think I needed to be extraordinary. Now I think being genuine is more important. Real over perfect always. There's no one size fits all definition. Some find success in routines. Others in adventures. Some in silence. Others in noise. That's the beauty of it.
I've learned not to judge someone else's idea of success. What seems small to me might be huge for them. And vice versa.
Let's stop putting people in boxes. "You're not successful because you don't earn in lakhs." "You're just a homemaker." "You didn't go to college." All this is noise.
What if we measured success by joy? By contentment? By honesty? The world would look very different.
So many people live their whole lives chasing someone else's dream. What a tragedy. You owe it to yourself to define what success means to YOU.
Maybe it's a job. Maybe it's creating art. Maybe it's raising a kind child. Maybe it's just waking up and trying again.
Don't let trends decide your worth. The world will always move fast. But you can move at your own rhythm.
Celebrate your progress. Even if it's slow. Even if no one sees it. Especially then.
Every step forward counts. Even the messy ones. Especially the messy ones.
You're allowed to change your mind. What felt like success five years ago might not anymore. That's growth, not failure.
Rest is part of success too. Burnout doesn't prove dedication. It just drains your soul. Rest. Recharge. Return stronger.
Support others on their journey. There's enough room for all of us to succeed. Uplifting others never takes away from your own light.
Sometimes, success is simply staying true to yourself in a world constantly trying to change you. That takes courage. It's easier to follow the crowd. But choosing your path, even when it's lonely, is powerful.
Not everyone will understand your version of success and that's okay. They don't have to. It's not their life. Not their journey. Your happiness isn't up for public approval.
Success also doesn't always look like winning. It can look like trying again after failing. Like taking accountability when you mess up. Like being honest when lying would be easier.
Some of the most meaningful definitions of success come from people who've faced the hardest lives. People who lost everything, yet rebuilt. People who faced trauma and turned it into healing for others. That's real strength. That's real success.
I think success is also being able to give without expecting anything back. Time, kindness, love, help. Giving freely shows confidence. It says you have enough within you.
Success isn't noisy. It doesn't always come with applause. Sometimes, it's quiet moments the calm in your chest after making a hard decision. The pride in your heart after a long day of doing your best.
You can be successful and still feel lost. That's normal. Growth isn't linear. You can be doing great in one area of life and struggling in another. That doesn't make you a failure. It makes you human.
And success doesn't cancel out pain. You might reach a goal and still feel empty. That's a sign to look deeper—not outside, but within.
A mentor once told me, "You don't chase success. You build habits, character, and discipline—and success finds you." That stuck with me.
It made me realize that success isn't about luck. It's about consistency. About showing up even when you don't feel like it. Even when no one's watching.
It's okay if your version of success changes over time. That's a good thing. It means you're evolving. What mattered at 16 might not matter at 26 and that's perfectly natural.
We also need to stop romanticizing struggle. Yes, effort is important. But suffering isn't a badge of honor. Success shouldn't cost your peace, your sleep, or your health.
It's okay to succeed gently. Quietly. Without burning yourself out.
One of the most underrated forms of success? Being content. Not lazy. Not unambitious. Just genuinely satisfied with where you are, who you are, and what you're doing.
Don't let hustle culture convince you that rest is failure. Rest is fuel. It's a strategic pause, not a weakness.
We need to normalize slow success. Long journeys. Setbacks. Detours. These don't make your story any less valid. If anything, they make it more real, more relatable. And if you feel stuck right now confused, lost, unsure of your next move know that this too is part of success. This phase is teaching you patience, clarity, and grit.
So give yourself grace. Celebrate what you've overcome. Honor what you're building.
And trust that success, in your terms, is on its way even if it's arriving quietly. Success isn't a single moment. It's not a trophy, a title, or a finish line. It's a journey made up of choices, challenges, and quiet victories that no one else may ever see.
It's waking up every day and trying again, even when you're tired. It's being proud of yourself, not for being perfect, but for being real. It's knowing your worth even when the world doesn't clap for you.
True success isn't about being above others. It's about being in tune with yourself your values, your growth, your peace. It's about creating a life that feels honest, even when no one else understands it. So forget the timelines. Forget the comparisons. Forget the pressure to be "enough" by someone else's definition. You're already successful when you decide to live with purpose, kindness, courage, and authenticity.
And if today, your only achievement was making it through then that too, is success.
Be kind to yourself when you fall short. You're human. You're learning. That's part of the deal. The world might not always recognize your efforts. But you can. And that's enough.
Lastly, success is a journey. Not a destination. You don't "arrive." You evolve.
And the best kind of success? Living a life that feels right, even if no one else understands it.
That's the success I'm chasing.
So, yup that's it for this chapter... once again Thank you sooooo much to reach untill this page it really means a lot for me ;)