Harmonizing Inner Aspirations and Outer Success

In our pursuit of success, we often encounter a clash between official goals and underlying, true desires. At first glance, following the plan might seem like a satisfactory result, but real success is revealed when we achieve what calls to us from the depths of our soul. In today’s world, we continually set goals such as obtaining an education or advancing our career, yet we often forget to clarify what truly underlies these ambitions. It might happen that an external achievement does not reflect genuine internal satisfaction, for success is measured not only by completed tasks but by a harmonious alignment with personal values and needs. That is why real fulfillment comes when our deep, sometimes even unconscious, desires coincide with the outcomes of our efforts. This harmony not only fills life with energy but also serves as a powerful catalyst for further progress, helping us move forward with clarity and confidence in our own abilities. Thus, to attain true success, it is important to listen carefully to ourselves and strive to realize both outward and inward ideals.

How can we define the concept 'success' and does achieving what is desired correspond to this concept? The notion of success can be seen not as the mere result of reaching a pre-set goal, but rather as a harmonious convergence of an external outcome with deep, sometimes even unconscious, internal aspirations. In other words, success is not only about following a plan but also about the sense of fulfillment that comes when one achieves what they truly desire with all their heart.

For example, one text (source: link ) states:
"For in life we sometimes lose because we are not entirely clear about what it is we truly want. For instance, we tell ourselves: my goal is to receive an education. In reality, we simply want to finish school with good grades on our diploma. And that is not the same thing, though it is related!"

This quote emphasizes that a stated goal (such as obtaining an education) may not completely reflect the true inner desire (achieving good grades, which might be associated with recognition or a sense of self-sufficiency). Thus, even if on the surface a person attains what they aimed for, they may not experience genuine success if the external achievement does not match their real needs and values.

Another excerpt from the same source similarly points out the difference:
"In reality, our secret goal is to spend as little energy and time on our activities as possible. And of course, that is not the same! And yet, we almost always achieve our goal, always! But not the one that has been declared (even if in our minds), rather the secret, true goal. What we truly desire with all our heart is what we achieve."

Here, the author notes that often a person attains what they want on a subconscious level, even if the officially stated tasks appear otherwise. Thus, the achievement of what is desired can be considered success only if it reflects the true, deep aspirations of an individual. If the external result diverges from inner desires, it may be said that only a superficial conformity to convention has occurred, rather than genuine success.

In conclusion, one can say that achieving what is desired truly corresponds to the concept of success if the external result is in harmony with one's authentic inner aspirations, thereby bringing real fulfillment and energizing further development.

Supporting citation(s):
"In life we sometimes lose because we are not entirely clear about what it is we truly want. For instance, we tell ourselves: my goal is to receive an education. In reality, we simply want to finish school with good grades on our diploma. And that is not the same thing, though it is related!" (source: link )

"In reality, our secret goal is to spend as little energy and time on our activities as possible. And of course, that is not the same! And yet, we almost always achieve our goal, always! But not the one that has been declared (even if in our minds), rather the secret, true goal. What we truly desire with all our heart is what we achieve." (source: link )