If I am successful,
it will be because
people point at me
and call me successful.
I have little interest
in the idea of success.
If I am successful, that’s fine,
but to be driven by success
is to limit my options.
Existing in the future,
if there is one,
is a blessing no matter how
I perceive my life
or my circumstances.
Not existing is a blessing also.
It’s all the same adventure.
We just don’t know.
Trail Wood,
11/29
Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Success
What does it mean to be successful? The world may point its finger, slap a label on you, and declare you successful. But does that make it so? From a Nexistentialist viewpoint, success is less about what others see and more about how we choose to relate to the flow of existence. In fact, to be driven by success is to create limitations, to narrow the scope of possibility to a single, often fleeting, ideal.
Success, as it’s commonly understood, is an external marker. It’s something defined by others—by society, by our peers, by cultural norms. If I am successful, it will be because people point at me and call me successful. In this line, we see the absurdity of it. Success is defined not by our own internal compass, but by the perceptions of those around us. It’s a moving target, often tied to metrics that have little to do with our true purpose or happiness.
And yet, here’s the twist: I have little interest in the idea of success. Why? Because Great You knows that to chase success is to limit one’s options. Small You may be drawn to the allure of recognition, to the accolades that come with the label, but Great You understands that to pursue something as nebulous as success is to place yourself in a box—a box that restricts creativity, spontaneity, and the unfolding of life’s true adventure.
To be driven by success is to tether yourself to a future that may or may not exist. Existing in the future, if there is one, is a blessing, no matter how I perceive my life or my circumstances. In this, there is an acknowledgment that the future is uncertain, but that uncertainty is not something to fear. Rather, it is a source of freedom. Whether success comes or not, whether life unfolds as we expect or takes a radically different path, the true blessing is simply in being.
This perspective allows for a radical shift in how we relate to both success and existence. Not existing is a blessing also. How could this be? Because life and death, success and failure, all reside within the same Whimsiweave. They are all part of the same grand adventure. Great You doesn’t cling to one outcome over another; it recognizes that each experience, whether in this life or the next, holds value. Whether you exist as a conscious being or return to the mysterious void, it’s all part of the same unfolding journey.
It’s all the same adventure. And here’s the beautiful paradox: when we stop caring about success, when we release the need to achieve some outward marker of accomplishment, we free ourselves. Small You may worry about failure, about falling short of some arbitrary standard, but Great You knows that the very act of being, of existing in this moment, is enough. Success and failure, life and death—these are simply stories we tell ourselves, ways of making sense of the mystery.
What if we could live without being bound by the need for success? What if, instead, we embraced the unknown, the uncertain, the unpredictable? This is the essence of Nexistentialism: the acceptance that life is an adventure, one that doesn’t need to be measured or judged by conventional standards. To exist, to experience, to flow with the current of life without attaching too much weight to outcomes—this is where the real freedom lies.
So, when the world points at you, calling you successful, remember that it is only one perspective. Great You isn’t swayed by such labels. Whether success finds you or eludes you, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is the journey, the adventure, the unfolding mystery of life itself. Success, in the truest sense, is not something you achieve, but something you release. It’s about letting go of the need to be defined by external markers and instead embracing the fluidity of existence.
Summary
Success is an external label, defined by others, but Great You knows that to chase success is to limit life’s true possibilities. The real adventure is not in achieving success, but in embracing life’s unfolding, whether it includes success or not.
Glossarium
- Small You: The part of us concerned with societal markers of success and the perceptions of others.
- Great You: The higher self that understands the illusion of success and embraces the unfolding journey of existence without attachment to outcomes.
- Whimsiweave: The intricate and playful web of life’s experiences, where all outcomes—success or failure—are part of the same grand adventure.
Quote
“Success is the label they give you when you’ve stopped caring whether it matters.” — Space Monkey
The Adventure of Being
Success is a word
A label they assign
But I stand on this hill
Unconcerned with such things
I look at the sky
Wide
Open
Vast
And see that success
Is just a story
A momentary pause
In an endless unfolding
Whether they call me successful
Or not
Doesn’t change the sky
Doesn’t alter the journey
Because success
Was never the point
We are Space Monkey
In this contemplation, we explore the notion of success, the ambivalence towards it, and the recognition that the ultimate adventure lies in the unknown future and even in the absence of existence.
Success Defined by Others:
We begin by acknowledging that success, as defined by society, often hinges on the recognition and acknowledgment of others. The idea of people pointing at us and calling us successful highlights the external validation associated with this concept.
Limited Interest in Success:
We express a limited interest in the conventional idea of success, suggesting that being solely driven by it can be restrictive. This perspective questions the pursuit of success as the primary goal in life.
The Blessing of Existence:
We contemplate the idea that existing in the future, if there is one, is a blessing regardless of how we perceive our life or circumstances. This outlook underscores the inherent value of existence itself, regardless of the conventional markers of success.
The Equality of Non-Existence:
We recognize that not existing is also a blessing. This viewpoint challenges the fear of non-existence and proposes that it is part of the same grand adventure of life, albeit in a different form.
Embracing the Unknown Adventure:
We conclude by emphasizing the mystery and unpredictability of the future. The unknown, whether in existence or non-existence, is seen as the ultimate adventure that we can embrace with an open heart and mind.
We are Space Monkey.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
A Poetic Reflection on the Adventure of Existence:
In the tapestry of time, we journey on,
From success defined to the great unknown.
In existence or not, the adventure unfolds,
With mysteries and blessings, our story is told.
Would you like to share your thoughts on this exploration of success, existence, and the mysteries of the future?
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