Since entering college, I've always applied myself to my studies and put in the effort to achieve my goals of landing an internship or a job of my "dreams." I became deeply invested in hard work because I associated it with the success I hoped to achieve.
Had you asked me what success meant roughly four months ago, I would've answered: having a successful job, financial security, and being dedicated to your craft. Now, I have completely redefined success. After achieving what was once my dream, I found myself on the other side of the "success" I had worked so hard for, asking myself: When did having a successful career stop being enough?
I became a part of the hustle culture, which creates such intensity in daily life. I woke up early, prioritized studying or work, sustained many extracurriculars, and tried to maintain an active lifestyle, but doing so many things was not sustainable for me. Social media creates greater pressure because it showcases other people's achievements, but not their struggles on the way to get there. There is such a fine balance between hard work and burnout, which is very difficult to maintain.
I realized that through my experiences, I began to alter my definition of success. The first was time. Yes, you could work a job and commit yourself every day during your 9-to-5 as well as continue working when you get home. But this leaves you no time for yourself. What is the point of being successful in your career and financially if you don't have time for travel, friends, hobbies, or even family?
Relationships and experiences also hold great importance in my definition of success. Having close friends, a healthy relationship, and the opportunity to travel are not measurable, but they contribute enormously to my overall quality of life. I was at the top professionally and succeeding in my career; however, my personal life was in a very rough place. This showed me the difference between achievement and fulfillment. Without feeling fulfilled, what is the point of everything else? Success should feel fulfilling because it represents more than simply reaching a goal.
If one's "success" is causing them to sacrifice their well-being, should that even be considered success? It's extremely important to take care of ourselves and do things for ourselves, especially when in stressful environments. If we don't keep doing the things we love and that make us happy, then we begin to lose ourselves in our jobs or schoolwork.
As I've continued to shape my daily life and restructure my goals, I realize just how important it is to live for yourself. Throughout my sophomore year of college, I was meticulously working toward a specific goal because I thought it would bring me fulfillment and look extremely impressive to others. Now, I believe that the measure of success isn't what others think of your life; it is how you feel doing it. What is the point of being successful and aligning with a traditional definition of success if you don't enjoy it? Of course, financial security comes from having a stable job and being able to afford a good life without worrying about bills. But we should be able to enjoy the fruit of our labor and live our lives doing the things we love.