THE PERFECT LIFE?

 

THE PERFECT LIFE?

In the hazy glow of childhood innocence, I was raised on the promises of the perfect life. A life meticulously crafted from the blueprints handed down through generations. It was a life marked by milestones: a good education, a stable job, a picture-perfect marriage and the pitter-patter of tiny feet echoing through halls of a beautiful family home.

However, as I journeyed through the tumultuous landscape of adolescence and emerged on the cusp of adulthood, I began to question the validity of these age-old ideals. The world around me was evolving at breakneck speed and the traditional markers of success no longer seemed to hold the same allure they once did.

Marriage, once hailed as the ultimate goal of romantic bliss, now appeared as an institution fraught with complexities and uncertainties. The rise of divorce rates and shifting cultural norms challenged the notion of happily ever after, forcing many to confront the harsh reality that love alone was not enough to sustain a lifelong partnership.

The pursuit of a good job, once seen as the cornerstone of financial stability and social status now felt like a precarious tightrope walk through a volatile and unforgiving economy. The rise of automation and gig economy jobs blurred the lines between traditional career paths leaving many of us grappling with the uncertainty of precarious employment and stagnant wages.

The prospect of starting a family, once viewed as the ultimate fulfillment of the human experience now seemed like an impossible dream in the face of skyrocketing living costs and mounting student debt. The idyllic image of a beautiful family home faded into the background, overshadowed by the harsh realities of economic insecurity and environmental uncertainty.

In contrast to the scripted narrative of the perfect life, today’s version of success is a far more nuanced and multifaceted concept. It is a tapestry woven from the threads of authenticity, resilience and personal fulfilment, a journey defined not by the external markers of achievement but by inner growth and self-discovery.

Success is no longer measured by the size of our bank accounts or the status of our job titles. Gen Z has revolutionized the career game, matter of fact the game of life. You don't have to be chasing the big careers to feel like you are doing something with your life. Everyone wants a shot at changing the world and thanks to social media and more emerging technologies you actually can. Therefore, success is now measured by the impact we make on the world around us, the richness of our experiences and the depth of our relationships.

In a world obsessed with perfection, we find ourselves trapped in a never-ending cycle of comparison and competition, a cycle that leaves us feeling perpetually inadequate and unfulfilled. We chase after the elusive trappings of success- the corner office, the luxury car, the picture-perfect family as if they were the keys to unlocking the door to happiness. But as we reach for these external markers of achievement, we find that they slip through our fingers like grains of sand, leaving us grasping at empty air.  

What if true success lies not in the pursuit of perfection, but in the acceptance of imperfection? What if happiness is not found in the flawless facade we present to the world, but in the messy, beautiful chaos of the human experience? And what if the path to true fulfillment lies not in the relentless pursuit of external validation, but in the quiet moments of introspection and self-discovery?

As we grapple with these questions, we are forced to confront the harsh reality that the perfect life may, in fact, be nothing more than an illusion—a mirage shimmering on the horizon, forever out of reach. Yet, in the midst of this paradox, we find a glimmer of hope—a spark of possibility that illuminates the path forward.

What if the pursuit of success is not about reaching some elusive destination, but about embracing the journey itself? What if true success lies not in the destination, but in the process of becoming? What if the key to unlocking the door to happiness and fulfillment lies not in the pursuit of external markers of achievement, but in the cultivation of inner peace and self-acceptance?

So, why does the allure of perfection persist despite the futility of chasing it? The answer lies at the intersection of how we view success stories and the peculiar nature of success itself. It could be the huge bias in the success stories we are exposed to. Think about it, we only hear about the startup founder who sold their company for a billion dollars, the artist who won a Grammy or the author who made it on the best seller list. Equally talented and hardworking people, who failed-or were only moderately successful-are simply forgotten. It could also be the fact that success follows a power law: the person at the number one position in any field reaps most of the benefits and rewards. Be it sports, the arts or entrepreneurship, the number two is usually far behind in terms of earnings and fame. This difference is not so much due to a difference in talent or performance, as it is due to the snowball effect of success. Whether we like it or not, the victor gets most of the spoils. Isn't it why we emulate people like Elon Musk rather than role models who in fact, might be more relatable? He was still the same person before he made it to the top but would we have recognized him if he had not made it to the top?

The desire for perfection kicks in where inspiration disconnects itself from reality. By defining success only in terms of stupendous outcomes, we prevent ourselves from enjoying our work for its own sake. If the real reason to chase perfection is to feel good about yourself, an easier alternative is to structure your life around what you actually enjoy doing. This way, even if you don't end up on the cover of  Forbes magazine, you get to live each day exactly as you want to.

In the face of this paradox, we are left with a choice—a choice to continue chasing after the illusion of the perfect life, or to chart a new course guided by authenticity, resilience, and self-discovery.  To chase a dream that makes our hearts burn and brim with happiness. And as we stand at the crossroads of possibility, we are reminded that true success lies not in the pursuit of perfection, but in the courage to embrace the beautiful messiness of the human experience. Perfection is a myth, progress is reality.

So, what’s your version of the perfect life and how are you going to live it?