Writing with life and water

Tag: material (page 1 of 1)

The Pursuit of Success: small-steps and self-improvement

There are many times in our lives when we can feel left behind. Today’s glamorous world tells us whatever we are doing is not enough. The mark of excellence, achievement and the weight of the rich and powerful stand tall and wide. The globalised world, where our work, lifestyles and knowledge get put into a polyarchy of competition. They show us that progress is not only far but also material. It would appear for anyone to be of relevance they must be capable of reporting back a competing list of extraordinary achievements, wealth and status. There is nothing inherently wrong with striving to be the world’s best. However, chasing success for its own sake can be destructive. For a start, there is no finish line as commonly perceived. The chase will always continue, so you best be sure what you are doing is worth your time. Many soon discover their popular image of success still leaves them unfulfilled. Success in its popular perception derives from a perception of others, failing to consider the more important, personal element- self-improvement.  Today’s pressure to succeed now reaches overwhelming levels. The constant pressure to keep up with our peers raises the question- have we all become lazier or are we just chasing too much in a world that never stops demanding? Dr K from his YouTube channel HealthyGamers deconstructs the left-behind mindset, revealing the ways the popular perception of success gives way to deep-seated fears and obstacles. We can learn achievement/success through only social comparisons can become our worst enemies. Success must come from a deeper hunger to improve oneself. By shedding light on the importance of delayed gratification, acceptance and gradualism, success can be a proactive process for everyone. In this way, more of us can stop dwelling on failure and work to bring change in ourselves and others.

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How ‘Positive Thinking’ Causes Destruction

Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine by Derren Brown throws the towel on today’s age of positive thinking. Like with his enigmatic charisma, he guides readers on a different path to ‘happiness’. One that halts the pelting, positive treadmill and focuses on finding acceptance in the reality of disappointment and joy. His graceful writing stretches 446 pages and makes clear readers do not need yet another ‘quick rich scheme’ or a book jammed with positive quotes. After finding myself binging on plentiful ‘inspiring’ messages, I appreciate his view that positivity guides have paradoxically caused discontent in needing continued positivity. Brown introduces Stoicism as the old age thinking to rediscover an approach to finding resilience, acceptance, and happiness in precarious human life. He carves open the stoic perspective by taking the reader through a phenomenal breadth of knowledge, history, philosophy, and psychology. The book offers lots to contemplate, from angles of life to acceptance of death. Ultimately, this book provides a framework to discover and take greater happiness from ordinary life. This article will not be a book review and instead focus on Brown’s interesting contempt of today’s ‘positive thinking’ mantra. Why has the positive thinking movement become such a toxic barrier to happiness? How can positive thinking become suddenly negative and destructive? 

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