Why Ambition Can Lead to Suffering

And How To Stop It

25/06/23 [8:44pm]

What if you’re not doing enough?

It’s a scary question to consider at the best of times, and many people become paralyzed by it. For many people, this question is often neglected in favour of more immediate concerns, creating a life which - although more enjoyable - may lead to worse outcomes in an objective sense.

Of course, the brain of an ambitious person often works in the exact opposite way, and that’s not exactly a good thing.

Ambitious people wonder if they’re doing enough, but - instead of casting this question away - we work away our doubts. Day after day, we prove ourselves to someone that doesn’t exist, creating a perfect concoction of achievement, recognition, and dissatisfaction. It’s no wonder, then, that these ever-increasing standards can lead to a feeling of loneliness.

If you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet you’re more ambitious than the average person. If that’s the case, then you’ll have encountered these questions just as many times as I have:

Should I focus on living an effective life at the cost of my happiness? Is productivity and achievement worth more than stillness and satisfaction? Will a peaceful, quiet life lead to more dissatisfaction than it will create happiness?

I was reminded of this question today when I watched this video from Leon Hendrix. Ultimately, there is no answer; like many things in life, the value comes in trying to find a solution, not the solution itself.

Amidst all this uncertainty, however, one thing’s for sure: wisdom that has stood the test of time is very, very likely to be correct. With this in mind, it seems that the feeling of loneliness created by unrelenting ambition is ultimately unproductive; after all, I can’t remember the last time I heard any conventional wisdom that didn’t include “spend time with people you care about”.

At the end of the day, the frustrating answer is this: it’s a balance. If you’ve related to this dilemma at all, then chances are you’re the type of person who has something valuable to give to the world. Don’t allow your potential to be extinguished by guilt or hopelessness, but at the same time, never underestimate the power of having enough.

If it sounds like an impossible balance to strike, that’s because it is.

See you tomorrow,

- Will