“The path to success is…”

“To be successful do these 10 things…”

“The most important things you can do in your 20’s are…”

“Go to college get a degree, work for free to gain experience, work full-time and overachieve then you’ll be successful….”

Ugh, the monolithic advice is tiring. Nobody knows what can be successful for you except you. No matter your age no matter your experience. No two stories are the same so please stop with the unsolicited advice or the absolute statements. Stop with the linear paths to “success”. To life. 

In a time where so much information is readily available, everyone is a coach or motivational speaker. Machines tell you what and how to do it. Each one advises on different things but the absolute statements are consistent. “This worked for me so you can do this…” 

The guidance is to be like them, be like someone else. I get it originality is almost impossible in the modern world so we’re forced to rinse and repeat. The problem though is we don’t even have the flexibility or opportunity to question why.

“Why should I do the thing that millions of other people are doing? Why should I define success in the way that you’ve declared? Why must life be all about climbing a career ladder, making money, looking better than someone else, buying a house, and constantly “doing”?”

It’s quite exhausting. This spinning wheel we’ve found ourselves in. When do we get to just be? To wake up and do what we truly desire or even do nothing at all and know we’ll be just fine. 

I don’t know when or if ever but the monolithic paths and “concretes” aren’t working. The pressure is on.