In life, both personally and professionally, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly seeking more: more success, more money, more validation. Often, we don’t even know exactly what “more” is, but we feel like it’s necessary. In our minds, growth must always be exponential, and we embark on complicated paths that promise a result that, in many cases, was already within our reach. This need for “more” leads us to complicate our lives, to drift away from what truly matters, and to forget that often the solution to what we’re seeking has always been inside us.
It’s like in Indiana Jones. Even though Indy gets caught up in all sorts of adventures, fighting for the lost ark, the story could have unfolded the same way without his intervention. The puzzle pieces fit with or without him. Similarly, in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy always had the shoes she needed to return home, but she didn’t know it until the end. Both characters search for answers outside themselves, but in the end, the truth is that the solution was always there, waiting to be recognized.
This is a clear reflection of what happens in our personal and professional lives. We often let ourselves be guided by the expectations of others or by what society tells us we should be. In the workplace, for example, the race for promotion, more money, or a higher position can make us feel like we’re advancing, but do we really need more? We find ourselves trapped in a cycle of constant searching, without questioning if we’re truly seeking what will make us happy, or if we’re simply following someone else’s path without realizing it. The problem isn’t ambition itself, but rather how we measure our worth.
We constantly seek validation from others and often, the people around us give well-intentioned advice based on their own experiences, but those experiences are not ours. Although their words come from a place of concern or wisdom (or envy, we don’t know), we risk following paths that don’t resonate with our essence. Without meaning to, we stray from what we truly need because we allow ourselves to be influenced by what others believe is “right.” These external guides, can make us lose perspective and enter a vicious cycle of insecurity and doubt.
Do we really need more to be happy or successful? Accepting that more isn’t better, in fact, liberates us. It allows us to be more authentic and to live according to who we truly are, without the pressure to prove anything to anyone. Instead of chasing goals that don’t resonate with us, we can focus on what truly makes us happy, on what we really want for our lives. Ultimately, true satisfaction isn’t found in accumulating more, but in valuing what we’ve already achieved, what we are, and what we have, without the constant need for external validation, that leads to real sucess and with that, to wealth.
So, the next time we feel the urge to seek more or get lost in the advice of others, let’s think of Dorothy and Indiana Jones. Let’s ask ourselves: Is this what I really want, or what others expect of me? Is this a path to something at all?