Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Tell me somethin’, girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there somethin’ else you’re searchin’ for?

I’m falling
In all the good times I find myself longin’ for change
And, in the bad times, I fear myself”
Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (from “A Star Is Born” soundtrack)

If you are an average Joe, does that mean you are not successful even if you are happy with your life? In this hustle culture world, everybody seems to be chasing fame and success.

How do you define success? When are you finally truly satisfied? Is wanting more and more and never being satisfied being successful? How much is enough?

What if someone is happy being mediocre or average? What if they are doing what they love and are doing it for the love of doing it? Would they be considered not successful?

Instead of trying to be “special”, you can be your ordinary average, happy self. In the end, what do you truly need? If you are in a career that you are passionate about, doing what you love, you’re one of the lucky ones.

You come into this world with nothing, and you will leave with nothing so, in between life and death ensure that you are living a life that is fulfilling because that is all that you get.

I had a realization when I was travelling recently with only a carry-on suitcase that if I were to lose every material possession I left behind at home, I would be okay. All that I needed I had on me, my passport, my phone and a few essentials. The realization was liberating.

To me what is important now, is my health, my family, my friends, being able to travel, taking courses I enjoy, being grateful and satisfied with what I have, waking up joyful most days and doing what I want to do and having the freedom to do so, along with peace of mind. Anything more than that is extra for me.

How about you? Are you living the life you want or just going through the motions? Living the life you want begins with having the right mindset and taking the first step.

“The greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never want where the mind is satisfied.” – Lucretius

“There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” – ― G.K. Chesterton

“He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.” – ― Epicurus