#105: When success becomes self-objectification
✨ Pause to reflect and uncover lessons in time’s flow. Explore how ambition can lead to self-objectification, practice meeting your heart with kindness, and discover how stress can become a teacher.
👋 Welcome to this week’s Pursuit. My name is Amir, and each week, I go over 10 hours of content about personal growth and mental well-being, bringing you four insights and thought-provoking perspectives from leading thinkers. I hope to have a tiny impact on your life and inspire you with the tools to lead a more fulfilling life.
This week at a glance:
🌈 finding clarity in your monthly pause
🔔 when success becomes self-objectification
🤗 I’m here. I’ve got you.
🤌 when stress becomes your teacher
🌈 finding clarity in your monthly pause
Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a vault for the lessons life teaches us? In hindsight, if we’re introspective, we often recognize patterns and glean valuable insights. Yet, over time, we forget them and fall back into our norms—our default, our autopilot.
Taking time once a month to sit down and reflect on the past can help us stay aligned with our inner calling. You don’t need any fancy tools or systems—just a notebook, an inspiring café, and the discipline to disconnect from your devices.
Here are some lessons that resonated from this week’s reading:
The dimension of time explains why you are not your thoughts, your emotions, or your capabilities. None of these persist against the ticking of the clock.
If you want to change how you feel, learn to either change your actions or change the story you believe.
Every journey you take in life — whether in work or in love, for leisure or for achievement — masquerades a journey to understand yourself. The earlier you accept this, the more fruitful your adventures.
You impress yourself when you do something you care about that is hard. Remember: there is no pride without struggle.
✨ From Julie Zhuo -The Gifts of 40
🔔 when success becomes self-objectification
Most of us feel driven by a relentless desire for success, only to find ourselves increasingly unhappy. It's not about unwinding this ambition but managing it. Much like an alcoholic managing their craving without ever losing the desire, we need to control our ambitions without letting them control us. Picture this: you're married, and despite your commitment, you still find other people attractive. It's natural, but you choose not to act on it. Similarly, you must decide whether to work that 14th hour or spend time with your loved ones.
Success and the desire for it should be managed, not eliminated. If you don't, you risk becoming addicted, spiraling into unhappiness despite outward achievements. Society often admires workaholics, celebrating their relentless drive. However, this admiration can mask a deeper issue—self-objectification. Just as it's wrong to see others merely as objects, it's harmful to see yourself only as a 'success machine.' 🎧 5min snip
The key to enduring satisfaction lies in balancing what you have with what you want. While more money, power, or followers might seem like the answer, true freedom comes from managing desires. Consider your desires for success, and ask yourself: Are they managing you? What trivial goals can you cross out to focus on what truly matters? Reflecting on these questions can help you find a balance, leading to a more fulfilling life. 🎧 4min snip
🤗 I’m here. I’ve got you.
Know you can meet your heart again and again, right where it is, and say, “I’m here. I’ve got you.” Know all of this is just practice, nothing to perfect, nothing to get right, nothing to win or beat someone at or prove or achieve. Know you can practice again after forgetting. Know it’s okay to not always know. We are so much more than what we see, what we know, what we assume.
✨ From Lisa Olivera - True You
🤌 when stress becomes your teacher
Recently, I’ve been dealing with some tax-related issues that have been deeply triggering for me. Each email seemed to launch me into a state of anger, leaving me frustrated—not just with my situation, but with the sheer amount of time I was spending poring over the details.
One morning, after feeling that familiar surge of frustration, I paused and told myself: problems like these are always going to arise. This is adult life. Take responsibility for your nervous system.
I realized that getting frustrated or angry wasn’t going to resolve anything. Instead, I decided to take control. I started practicing breathing exercises whenever I felt the anger bubbling up inside me. Slowly but surely, I began to reframe the situation—not as a nuisance, but as an opportunity. An opportunity to learn more about taxes, to gain knowledge, and maybe even to help others facing similar challenges in the future.
When we’re in a stressful situation, it’s vital to regulate our nervous system. People around us can sense when we’re stressed, anxious, or angry, even if they're not consciously aware of it. A regulated nervous system is one of the greatest gifts we can give to those around us. It’s not just about hiding our stress; it’s about genuinely calming our system for the benefit of everyone, including ourselves. 🎧 7min snip
So, next time you feel your day spiraling out of control, remember that any day can be saved. Take a moment to breathe, regulate your nervous system, and communicate with those around you.
🎵 Music I’m listening to
You’ll find mostly Ethnotronica, Organic House, World, Disco, and Organic Electronic here:
🎧 If you appreciate the music I carefully select and haven't followed my Spotify playlists yet, now is the perfect time to hit that follow button and join me on this musical journey! 🎶
🌒 Pano: Danceable and electronic obscure songs
🌓 Sisy: Ethnotronica and organic house
🌑 Berghain: Dark, minimal techno and tech house
🌕 Heide: Groovy soul and disco house
🌞 Sonntag: Afterhours shit
🌎 World: From Latin jazz to Turkish psych
🌚 Super Slow: For your intimate moments
Previously on Pursuit: