Personal achievement apart from common success is not what most of us are looking forward to. People usually try to achieve what makes them the center of attention. Money, fame and power are more like temporarily sedative drugs for common feelings of insecurity, worthlessness, anxiety and emptiness. Success according to superficial standards never feels like true success. It never heals the underlying feeling of dissatisfaction, on the contrary, it leaves people thirsty for more. Many lose interest in what they have achieved once it is overlooked by others. They give more weight to others judgment more than theirs.
Real success is not what turning others’ eyes toward us but that makes us cease seeking their attention. It makes one’s heart sing. It spares the need for others’ appreciation. Being financially or emotionally rewarded becomes obsolete, as making progress or acquiring new skill are the only sought-after rewards.