{Under}Achievement

“I feel that I underachieve” — a friend told me that to my surprise and disbelief.

I know he has gone through some difficult years, combating with health issues and receiving big disappointments in study and career building efforts. I however believe that he is a truly talented artist. In fact, his work almost won a number of serious competitions held by UK’s leading institutions. To me he has few reasons to doubt that he will have a very bright future ahead with many successes awaiting.

Yet he feels underachieved as the future is frankly a bit unclear now, accomplishments are not yet bagged, and goals have not been met. Truth is, many successful people I know feel exactly the same way.

Like any abstract definition, ‘underachievement’ is relative. It depends on what or who do you compare yours to. So do we know what real achievements are? Or when we consider to have ‘made it’?

Then there is a question of how we will feel after we get what we have been working so hard for? And what will happen after?

When we climb a mountain, if we can enjoy every bit of the exercise, the sounds and sights of nature, the breathtaking scenery beneath and beyond, and if we’re lucky, the good company, then does it matter when and whether we reach the peak or not?

All we know is that we will get somewhere higher every day, or we may slip down a bit to revisit the experience and learn how not to fall again. We may decide to try another path to discover new scenes and species, sometimes just for finding new challenges and testing our courage. Then frankly, getting to the mountain top will be just like any other day! We may even pass it without knowing.

Perhaps, having a ‘top-of-the-world target’ will help us get through life challenges and rainy days easier. Nevertheless, that target will be ever changing in today’s disruptive and volatile world. It would also change as you grow, enter a new phase, and encounter new experiences.

So my friend, why don’t we just enjoy ‘getting fit’ and the mountain around us?

Photo by Alfred Aloushy on Unsplash