How to Know If Success Is Really Yours?
These days, platforms like YouTube vlogging and TikTok are some of the most captivating trends. People are mimicking one another constantly. I’ve personally seen individuals create channels, replicate others’ content, and rebrand it as their own, believing this would bring them success.
And maybe it does — for a short while. They gather likes, and they attract followers. But how long can someone survive by copying others? Eventually, they’ll hit a ceiling. The borrowed ideas will run out, and worse, they may face legal trouble for piracy. More importantly, they risk losing their true selves along the way.
In today’s world, everyone seems to chase success, fame, or fortune, but we often bury one important truth: not every path is meant for you.
Success, if it doesn’t belong to you, feels like wearing someone else’s crown — it might sparkle on the outside, but it’s heavy, awkward, and draining to carry.
The Illusion of Glitter
What we usually notice is the success, the comfort, the rewards — the glitter.
What we don’t see are the years of struggle, mistakes, sacrifices, and perseverance behind it.
And what we often forget to ask ourselves is this:
Does this even align with me?
Jumping into something because it worked for someone else is like squeezing into shoes that don’t fit — sooner or later, you’re bound to stumble.
Think about it: would you buy clothes simply because they look good on someone else, even if they don’t match your personality or size? If not, why do we treat careers, talents, or goals differently?
Behind every glittering success story lies a hidden reality no one shows — sleepless nights, doubts, setbacks, and unglamorous sacrifices. When we only admire the shine, we overlook the scars.
Just like a diamond, brilliance only comes through immense pressure and time. Skip that process by stealing someone else’s shine, and you’ll never carry the strength that sustains it.
What is Real Success in Life?
Real success in life is living in alignment with your values, passions, and purpose, not just chasing money or fame. It means achieving fulfillment and peace instead of following someone else’s definition of success.
But true success has different layers — emotional, personal, and even spiritual. For example, many people mistake comfort for success, while others find it in resilience. To know whether your success is “real,” you need to ask yourself deeper questions…
When the Mind Is Not Ready
One of the most common reasons people follow the crowd is confusion — mental fog, societal expectations, and fear.
“What are you doing with your life?”
“You still haven’t started earning?”
These questions don’t only come from others. They begin to echo inside too. Out of panic, people grab onto the first shiny option they see — even if it’s not meant for them.
They’re not following passion.
They’re following fear.
And when fear becomes your compass, you start chasing trends instead of truths — applause from outside instead of peace within.
Fear works like a smooth-talking salesman offering shortcuts — convincing you the crowd’s path is the safest. But safety isn’t the same as fulfillment. A safe path without passion is simply a well-decorated prison.
History is filled with people who resisted panic and chose patience instead — Einstein, working as a patent clerk before reshaping science, or J.K. Rowling, who endured countless rejections before Harry Potter transformed literature. Their waiting wasn’t failure; it was preparation.
How Do I Stop Chasing Trends?
You can stop chasing trends by focusing on clarity over comparison. Instead of following what’s popular, align your choices with your own values and long-term goals.
This is easier said than done, because trends are everywhere. The real solution involves three practical steps: slowing down, filtering distractions, and practicing self-reflection. These daily practices help shift your mindset from chasing applause to building authentic success.
Caught Between Belonging Nowhere
We all had dreams as children. But growing up today, chasing those passions feels like a luxury very few can afford.
In my surroundings, I’ve seen people earn degrees in one field but end up working in completely different industries — sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity.
They don’t feel rooted where they started, and they don’t feel at home where they’ve landed.
That’s when emptiness strikes hardest — when you realize you haven’t reached your intended destination, and you no longer know where you stand.
Sometimes, when we chase what shines — a job title, fame, or a trend — we forget to ask ourselves: What truly matters to me?
In another post, I reflected on how success can come at the cost of what truly matters most — relationships, peace, and emotional health.
You can read it here: Success vs Happiness: What Matters in Life?
This “in-between” season feels like standing in a crowded room where everyone’s voice is loud, but your own gets drowned out. Unless you pause to listen inwardly, you’ll keep mistaking the noise for guidance.
“Nobody Reads Anymore”
When I first started my blog, I was excited but dependent — emotionally, mentally, financially, and even technically. I didn’t have major resources or a strong support system. What I did have was one thing: a deep desire to write.
Almost everyone around me tried to discourage me.
“Nobody reads blogs anymore.”
“Why don’t you make a YouTube channel instead? You’d get more followers!”
But deep down, I trusted in the power of words.
I believed written expression still mattered — even in a world obsessed with short clips and instant likes.
I reminded myself: even if only ten people read sincerely, it would mean more than a thousand empty likes.
Because while videos may capture the eyes, words capture the soul. A video might entertain for a moment, but a single sentence can stay with someone forever.
Was Everyone Right After All?
It’s been seven months now.
And truthfully, I haven’t even been able to attract a hundred consistent readers.
No regular subscribers, no viral posts, and no sudden growth.
Sometimes I wonder…
Maybe everyone was right.
If I had launched a YouTube channel, I’d probably have thousands of likes and comments by now.
Maybe I should’ve chased the trend instead of following my heart.
But then I remember why I began.
Success measured purely in numbers is like counting coins but forgetting their worth. Even one genuine comment, one soul touched, is a success invisible to algorithms but eternal in the heart.
Because Words Make Me Feel Seen
Writing makes me feel seen — even when the world overlooks me.
Because words reconnect me to myself.
Not everyone carries a bold, confident personality that immediately knows life’s direction.
Some of us — people like me — are soft-spoken, emotionally sensitive, and fragile when it comes to life’s biggest decisions.
We’re not the loudest in the room, not the most outgoing or popular. We feel deeply, yet speak little.
We grow up watching strong personalities lead — the loud, the charismatic, the trendsetters — and along the way, we start to believe that maybe our quieter selves don’t matter as much.
Maybe our talents aren’t valid unless they’re displayed, praised, or widely followed.
So in this confusion, we start imitating others — following paths that were never ours, hoping it makes us feel visible and validated.
But the painful truth is, we still don’t feel enough.
Because deep down, we never learned who we truly are — we just borrowed someone else’s glitter, hoping it would fit.
That’s when I had to remind myself of this simple truth:
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose. And do it with purpose.” — Dolly Parton
Quiet souls are often the deepest thinkers. While others chase noise, they are capable of building entire worlds within. History shows that many great artists, poets, and visionaries were observers first, not the loudest voices in the room.
The Real Meaning of Purpose
Purpose isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s quiet but steady. It’s not always flashy or attention-grabbing — often it’s personal, rooted in values and quiet passions.
So many people chase visibility — but what if your real power lies in depth, not reach?
What if your story matters, not because it trends, but because it touches someone deeply?
Maybe our true purpose isn’t to go viral — maybe it’s to go inward, to create something genuine.
Purpose is like a compass — it might not move you quickly, but it always keeps you in the right direction. Without it, even the fastest ship drifts lost at sea.
How Do I Know if Success Is Really for Me?
You’ll know success is truly yours when it feels natural, brings inner peace, and motivates you even without outside validation. Authentic success never feels like an act.
But there are also subtle warning signs that your “success” might actually belong to someone else. If your achievements feel heavy, forced, or empty, you may be wearing someone else’s crown. Learning to recognize these signs helps you stay on your authentic path.
The Answer? Your Gold Might Be Hidden
Everyone has their own gold — but not all of it glitters from the start.
Some gold is buried under layers of fear, doubt, dust, and slow progress.
But if it’s truly yours… it’s worth unearthing.
So don’t chase someone else’s light.
Not every path is designed for you.
Sometimes the quietest voices are the most truthful.
Sometimes the slowest growth is the most deeply rooted.
And sometimes, the invisible road is the one that leads you home.
Real gold never screams for attention. It waits quietly until you discover it — and once you do, its shine is unshakable. Fake glitter fades with time, but true gold grows brighter each time it’s tested.
A Final Thought — From a Place of Truth
I’m still struggling.
Still discovering my voice.
Still writing quietly, hoping it reaches the one who needs it.
But even without readers today, I’ll continue to write.
Because not every path is meant for me — including the ones everyone insists I “should” follow.
Because not all that glitters is my gold.
And even if mine doesn’t sparkle yet, I know — one day, it will.
Not loudly. Not virally.
But honestly.
And for me, that will always be enough.
Because in the end, legacy isn’t about being everywhere — it’s about being meaningful somewhere. Even if one heart is touched deeply, it matters more than a million who scrolled past.
What This Taught Me
Your passion doesn’t need to be popular to be powerful.
Glitter fades — but purpose endures.
Copying someone else might grab attention, but authenticity is what makes you unforgettable.
Slow success in your own lane outweighs fast fame on someone else’s borrowed path.
Your gold may not shine yet — but it’s still yours, and that’s what gives it worth.
Stay true to yourself, even when the world pushes otherwise.
Let your story be a light — even if it only reaches one heart.
Because sometimes, inspiring one soul is the first spark that inspires the world. Every great movement began with a single, unseen voice that chose truth over trend.
What does true success mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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