One of my favorite blogs had a recent post about jealousy and how maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. While the arguments listed seemed logical (i.e. looking at others to keep you competitive and make you strive to achieve even more, etc), I wasn’t so sure about the underlying message.
I know what ambition is, having been an aggressive career woman since 19. I’d spent the last ten years trying to stay competitive in a field that was dominated by another demographic while trying to carve out a name for myself. When I accomplished a goal, I never seemed satisfied because I was always looking at someone else’s accomplishments which I deemed more worthy.
It was by no means jealously, but it certainly kept lighting the fire underneath to keep me reinventing and striving for higher achievements – whatever they were. But as I got older, I began to realize that I was subconsciously living my life in comparison to others, so much so that I was living life on someone else’s terms, not mine.
The last few years, I’ve begun to fully live life on my own terms (guided, of course, by my faith and beliefs). I’ve begun to clearly redefine what success means.
Hiking the Inca trail this May taught me many lessons. One lesson was that I could no longer make excuses when it comes to accomplishing tasks, but the biggest lesson of all was that trying to keep up with others was futile. Even though my pace was excellent, I was still outpaced. Continually looking at others in the distance and trying to catch up only drained me quicker.
Continually looking back was an equal time waster because I couldn’t go back the same way. I had to keep forging on towards Machu Picchu.
The trail (a metaphor for life) can only be completed at one pace…….yours!
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Comments (6)
“The last few years, I’ve begun to fully live life on my own terms (guided, of course, by my faith and beliefs). I’ve begun to clearly redefine what success means.”
Good decision.:)
Absolutely! I couldn’t agree more. I spent many years so focused on others, I didn’t know who I was.
I love your tag line at the header of your blog. And yes I absolutely agree with this post! Live the life!
Interesting thoughts. One of the recurring thoughts I have as I plan to leave my current life for a RTW trip is ‘what will so-and-so think’. Isn’t it normal though, to compare ourselves to our contemporaries? Don’t we all try to find a community that will support our actions?
Thank you all for your insightful comments!
Aralola,You wrote out my thoughts! I can only move at my own pace because only I, have situations and talents peculiar to me.I live my life and hope to achieve my dreams not caring what anybody thinks and of course I am guided by my faith, beliefs,good judgment and the law.