Let’s talk about success for a while. How do you measure it? Is it even possible to measure success?
If yes, who sets the parameters?
If you're answering these questions, great. We can talk more.
I'll tell you a story. One of a young man with demons in his head.
Well, not the kind of demons you grew up knowing, but the kind we all grew up creating.
You know, the demons that constantly drive you to take that extra pack of cigarettes; those ones that show you the closest harmful weapon whenever there's a slight argument or fight.
You see, these demons aren't too different from the ones that spend the whole day in your head telling you you're a worthless scam not meant for good things.
Now, back to the story.
This young man has been fighting with these self and society-created demons but constantly losing the battle to them.
One day, however, after long weeks of sleeping with eyes open, wishing his heart would stop beating, dying and returning to life, he does. He wins the battle!
Scarred though he was, he had won the battle. He knew he had successfully defeated the demons. He could feel it. He's happy.
Nobody believes him!
Wait, nobody even knew he had been fighting a battle! However, that is not even the point.
The young man goes to meet his family. There's that bright newfound joy within him; the type you can't express with words. The joy every successful person has.
He rushes to them — his family, grinning to his aged parents, playing with his younger siblings. He is the eldest child and at this point, the whole family is staring at him.
What’s the news? They don't get it.
His sister quickly rushes out to look for a car somewhere in the compound. She thinks a new car might just be the reason her elder brother is excited. She finds nothing.
The mother is staring curiously, trying to peer into his mind. The father is adjusting his stool waiting for the big news.
Well, it wasn't the “I just got a million dollar contract” news or the “I've found a wife” information they were all expecting.
It was nothing.
Just a young man smiling like a fool.
There's a lot of silence, and eventually a talk about his age and the cars and houses being owned by his mates. It’s a long talk and the young man finally leaves.
He will soon embrace his demons back, as he has learned society's interpretation of success.
A success that must be gotten at whatever cost. A kind of success he hasn't yet achieved.
_________
But you might ask me, “He won the fight against depression and addiction. Doesn't that count as success?”
Well, I'll ask you the same question.
“But he won the fight against depression and addiction. Doesn't that count as success?”
Maybe we should all keep asking ourselves, and maybe, just maybe, we will be able to answer it.
– Delight, How Do You Measure Success?, 2020