Ambition Isn’t Bad

I was catching up with my friend who recently graduated from a prestigious university. She told me she was once ambitious and wanted to change the world. However, her focus shifted from making a difference to pursuing prestige and societal expectations. Now, she’s focused on becoming “ambitiously average” as a rejection of the prestige-driven culture she was immersed in during university.

I can relate because I went through the same thing years ago. I was motivated from a place of insecurity. I felt like I wasn’t enough and I needed to prove myself. When I achieved my goal, that feeling didn’t go away. The goalpost moved. I realized I was running on the hedonic treadmill and changing my external circumstances wasn’t the answer. I started to become jaded with this idea of being “ambitious”.

I feel more ambitious than ever, but my ambition comes from a different place now. It’s not driven by self-hate or insecurity, but rather a desire to actualize my potential and make the most of my abilities. My ambition is also fueled from a place of curiosity. I find joy and fulfillment in using my time and energy to learn, create, and work on creative projects. This creative outlet gives me a sense of meaning and allows me to contribute to my community in a meaningful way.