Reputation or Success?

I see a close comparison between your ideas and theories and those of Enlightened thinkers. Once you have achieved success it is your duty and ‘social responsibility’ to help those around you as you are part of a community that feeds and manifests off one

As the 19th century English poet, Robert Browning, puts it, “Better have failed in the high aim, As I/Than vulgarly in the low aim succeed”. In other words, Browning believes that it is more important to fight for achievements that do not only better oneself, but effect change on a deeper level are more honorable, in contrast to the quest for personal gratification. The secular pursuit of wealth or ‘success’ does not always result in one’s life changing for the better. The job promotion you have been eyeing does not come with the promise

By looking through history or just at the world around us, anyone who was even great was doubted or harassed; but because those people chose to fight through these struggles which eventually led to their success and happiness. Success is never given, is it earned. I love how this quote gives insight to the basic morals of people, the basic morals that people mold their life

Greed in society has overpowered everything, meaning that once individuals attain one goal, another one can always be found to take its place. Of course, it isn’t always a bad thing to want to continue to improve oneself or better a life, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

From the time children are entered into preschool, they are expected- for the most part- to do their best and be proud of it. One child’s best could be another child’s worst, and that other child’s best could be totally impossible for the first child. If everyone is doing their version of the best work possible, then could perfection ever possibly be achieved? It is a generally accepted truth that the answer to this question is an obvious and resounding no. By definition, a perfect human does not exist. However, humans are constantly striving towards this goal despite their knowing that it is impossible. The constant striving brings people closer and closer to the impossible goal but leaves them just shy of reaching it. This close-but-not-quite-there ending means a life that it is almost perfect. A life almost straight.

Ever since the existence of civilization, a fine boundary exists between human’s self-motivation and the expectation of social mechanism. As society progresses, this boundary is being gradually pushed against the will of individuals and favors the social construct. Unlike how people in the past were often inspired by their individual desires and goals, members of the new generation develop a perception of success that is heavily bounded by society’s expectations. Nonetheless, there are still individuals who are also motivated by their own values and dreams. These people are willing to step outside of the realm of ‘standard success’ and strive for what constitutes as success in their opinion. The following texts- “Project Classroom

From the time children enter into preschool, they are expected- for the most part- to do their best and be proud of it. One child’s best could be another child’s worst, and the second child’s best could be a different child’s worst. If everyone is doing their version of the best work possible, then could anyone ever truly achieve perfection? A generally accepted truth is that the answer to this question is an obvious and resounding no. By definition, a perfect human does not exist. However, humans are constantly striving towards this goal despite their knowing that it is impossible. The constant striving brings people closer and closer to the impossible goal but leaves them just shy of reaching it. This close-but-not-quite-there ending means a life that it is almost perfect- a life almost straight.

Lao Tzu once said that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”, which means that no matter how difficult the task, determination requires a necessary prelude for accomplishment (Tzu). People generally perceive accomplishments as the most important aspect of an individual’s value, but ultimately, only oneself can determine their worth and beliefs. The fading of one’s ideals is bound to occur eventually, but the only legacies considered inerasable are deeds. Great men and women are rarely remembered for their beliefs or thoughts; instead they are judged depending on their actions and the resulting consequences.

Robert Thurman, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, and Karen Ho share their ideas on different topics in each of their passages. In Thurman’s passage titled “Wisdom” he writes about one’s self and how acquiring his form of wisdom means that they are selfless, or willing to change themselves for the better or when the time comes. In “Biographies of Hegemony”, Ho writes about the type of society that Wall Street has created and how they continue to keep the same type of people in their elite group. However different the passages are, when thought about together they are applied to one another. The “wisdom” that Thurman describes would change people in a competitive consumption-oriented society that is Wall Street due to the reasoning that their

Being at peace with myself and developing, or maintaining, lasting relationships as my true self, or sage, without the hyper-achiever mode I ordinarily experience, is particularly appealing to me.

Some are chosen to be great while others challenge the definition of what encompasses greatness. And it is those few who fight to the end whether victorious or mocked by defeat who inspire us all to find the meaning of humility. They endorse the hope of a world of no boundaries but with respect and a tolerance to strive above the hardships which once labeled them victims. It is easy to dismiss the successes when compared to the numerous failures as just luck or to cast doubt that anyone would have been capable to arouse change while still being insightful yet understanding. To think the caliber of a person’s character could transition between God-like and average is to neglect that will can empower the weakest among us all but it is our choice on how and when we use

Unfortunately, the way that the world functions is that some are better off than others, which is why I value being able to help people. The Bible gives us a difficult challenge – to, as often as possible, stop thinking about ourselves and put the needs of others before our own. While this can be difficult to do because it often involves self-sacrifice, it is always worth any expended effort because, as Jesus said, when we serve our neighbor, we also serve Him. Aiding others in their situations may not always be the “easy way out” or the “cool” thing to do, but that is the beauty of the action – often, there is no better feeling than to lay down all your personal concerns to help somebody else.

Make the people above you feel greater than you are, even if they are not.

Be True to Yourself – There is great social pressure from parents, work and society to become a certain person and to achieve certain things – this pressure is hard to detach from. Self-respect comes from being true to our inner calling, to have faith in our own values and remember what is important to us. Everyone needs to follow their own path, even if others don’t respect our decision it is important that we do. Do we come into the world to please Tom, Dick and Harry or to live our own life?

Humanity would not be improved if all were to strive towards utter perfection. When we try hard to be perfect, an unattainable goal, we are bound to fail. Therefore, this inevitable “failure” shall lead to frustration and anger at ourselves though we have done nothing wrong. Should society not be taunted by this impossible goal, society as a whole will be happier and live fulfilled lives. Whereas if everyone were to be reaching for perfection, everyone’s lives would be the exact opposite. The core of our society would be filled with more stress-more than what already exists at least- as well as less contemptment with our actions. These negative emotions would result in the implementation of bad means as a result of hopelessness. People will be lead to believe that after failing so many times, the only thing left to do in order to be perfect is to not play by the rules, because when they did, it didn’t work. According to mid-twentieth century sociologist Robert Merton, “The moral mandate to achieve success thus exerts pressures to succeed, by fair means if possible and by foul means if necessary”(Robert Merton in Allenby 17). This leads to not only corruption of the individual, but corruption in society as a whole. This is due to the intense level of competition in society that is due to everyone feeling as if they must be the best and outdo those that surround them. These high levels of competition and little room for success leads to stress, depression, and people resulting to loopholes to make their way up to the top. Not only that, but even at a young age, children are being pressured to be the best. Christopher Bergland, ultra-endurance athlete, writer, and psychologist, additionally addressed cheating in his Psychology Today column (2012) when he stated, “We live in such a competitive world. From a very young age our children are taught that if they want to ‘succeed’ in life that they have to finish in the top percentile in just about every challenge they face. But not everyone can be a champion.”(Begland 6). Therefore, not only are adults affected by the pressures of competition, but children are too. If the stress piles up at an early age, then so do the bad habits which will all carry on into their