The Bondage of Success
Alas, here lies another sleepless night. Sleep took its fleet a long time ago. I lay here night after night, tossing and turning, with restless dreams of success. It feels like nothing that I’ve done is enough. I am a published author of two books and a freelance writer with articles in two magazines. I am a guest speaker at an upcoming conference but in my mind, I am a failure. I eat business ideas for breakfast and failed attempts for dinner. Wondering if any of my dreams will ever become reality. Forgetting that some of them already have.
How do you measure success? Maybe you can enlighten me. Is it a reflection of the number of zeros in your bank account? or the number of likes and views on your platform? Maybe we won’t feel it until our names are in “lights” or we are recognized in the grocery store. Whatever the case, success and its pursuit has become a form of bondage. An obsession that quickly turns into oppression of the mind. Turning our passion into a prison. We doubt ourselves and our abilities based on the validation of this vast world that we share with strangers.
I feel compelled to share with you what to do when I feel the chains of success tightening its grip on my mind.
Make the world smaller
Does it really matter if the entire world knows and values you? Think of the people in your world who really do. Your loved ones, children, friends and community. Master the success of relationship that you share with them before trying to conquer the world. The bigger your world the lonelier you become. Loosen the chains of being admired by the big world and embrace being loved by your world.
2. Evaluate your motive
Is what you are offering really what the world needs. High levels of success are achieved when we meet the NEED of the consumer. A question was posed on the internet asking, “how do I become a millionaire?” The response that was given stated “you are already asking the wrong question; the question should be what do my consumers need?” Loosen the grip that views success by dollar amount and increase the value of what you have to offer.
3. Praise the Progress
Dreams don’t come true overnight, until the one night that they do. If you are further along in your venture, that is success. If your dream has become an idea, Success! Your idea has become a plan. SUCCESS! Do not despise humble beginnings, instead praise each step of the journey. Along with that embrace each step. There is wisdom, experience and growth to be obtained each and every step of the way. I always say, I’d rather make a mistake with $700 so that I won’t make that same mistake with $7000. Untie the binders of being in a hurry, lasting success always takes time.
Very often I have to remind myself not to be a prisoner of success. Celebrate what I’ve already accomplished, while keeping the ambition that there is always more ahead. I’m learning to lead with love and pure passion rather than ruthless competition and fear of scarcity. I’m determined to follow the path of success that leads to freedom.
Copyright 2025 Ivy Gray
