There is something strange about praise.
You wait for it.
You receive it.
You feel good...
And then, almost without noticing, you begin waiting for it again.
Nothing seems to stay.
You wait for it.
You receive it.
You feel good...
And then, almost without noticing, you begin waiting for it again.
Nothing seems to stay.
We often believe we want appreciation.
But perhaps what we truly want is certainty.
Certainty that we matter.
That we're enough.
That our existence has value.
The problem is that no compliment can answer that question permanently.
Look around.
People refresh social media every few minutes.
Professionals chase another promotion before enjoying the previous one.
Creators celebrate success for a day and worry about the next post tomorrow.
The goal keeps moving.
Not because life demands it.
Because the mind does.
Validation is addictive for one simple reason.
It comes from outside.
Anything borrowed must be borrowed again.
Imagine waking up tomorrow...
No likes.
No compliments.
No applause.
No one noticing what you achieved.
Would you still become the same person?
If the answer makes you uncomfortable, don't ignore it.
Stay with it.
Perhaps freedom doesn't begin when everyone recognizes you.
Perhaps it begins when recognition is no longer necessary for peace.
One Question Worth Sitting With
If nobody could admire your success, would you still pursue it?
Don't answer immediately.
Some questions deserve silence before they deserve words.
Continue Reading
📓 Escape the Chaos – Issue 002: The Need to Matter
Explore why recognition feels necessary, why it never satisfies us for long and what remains when nobody is watching.