The sky might be the limit, but how high can Icarus fly before he burns himself and plunges to his death? Ambition has always come at a hefty price. But most of us gladly pay this price, being very oblivious to the loss that we incur in the long run. However, there’s another assortment of people who treat ambition like a hamster wheel. We term them ‘Overachievers’. They are not just driven by ambition. If anything, ambition is the sugar-glazed cherry on top; there are underlying layers of fear, apprehension, and anxiety. Reaching another goalpost does not make them feel proud; it makes them feel relieved as though someone has burdened them with an endless list of priorities that they must fulfill in this lifetime. So, going another step up in this twisted rung of a ladder that we call life only makes them feel happy or satisfied for a short while. It’s a fleeting moment, amounting to the wing flap of a butterfly, that soon goes away, washed with a wave of self-doubt and anxiety.
‘Hope’ escaped Pandora’s Box and slashed humanity like a fully fledged double-edged sword. But there’s something that never got to escape from the box- ‘Limit’. So, now humans are born with the crushing weight of ambition. Overachievers are too aware of this for their own good. They cannot sit still with this burdensome knowledge that if they push themselves, they can always go another mile. Imagine Jack and the beanstalk- only the beanstalk in our world has no end. We are cursed with this plight of false confidence that we can keep climbing as high up as we want. Now imagine our Jack from a brown household who has been conditioned to seek external validation since he was a child. However, that external validation also came with harsh criticisms and admonishing remarks. At some point, he internalizes those self-criticisms and often condescending remarks. The voices in his head that are constantly reminding him that he is falling short are often his own. But he is intoxicated by the praise and validation that his endless successful pursuits bring as a gift. However, God forbid he fails; no one will beat him up as much as he himself would. His fear of failure is one of the main driving forces that guides him to his goal. He likes the thrill of the chase when he runs after another purpose, but catching up to that can only bring him temporary relief. Soon after that, his successful endeavor became just another prize on his shelf. Happiness is a butterfly that rarely gets caught in its trap. One would argue that he does not want to be satisfied; he is too caught up in his checklist of pursuits to take a step back and acknowledge all the hurdles that he has crossed.
However, believing we humans are immune to limits is just another mirage. It is a good motivator and a good incentive for us to work hard. However, we must acknowledge the burnout that this endless pursuit of events often results in. Our Jack has been trained to believe he must be successful in multi-dimensional events. Just being an academic prodigy is not enough if he does not excel in extracurricular activities. He is often criticised for not bringing the medal home, because the bravery of ambition can only be validated when it results in success. So, our Jack now develops a desperate sense of achieving more than he is expected to. Because otherwise, he is too dependent on the glorified compliments and too caught up in his reproaching judgments of himself. At some point, his fear of failure and constant creeping anxiety catch up with him. It’s a very common scenario where the overachieving, successful person falls headfirst into the dark pit of depression. It’s what we call a ‘burnout phase’. He flies too high only to come crashing down, like hitting an ice block after treading on thin waters almost his whole life. Icarus finally burns his wings that carried him so far, and plunges to his death.
However, believing we humans are immune to limits is just another mirage. It is a good motivator and a good incentive for us to work hard.
Our brown household romanticizes the “Black Swan” concept, which highlights the impossibility of an action that can be done in a surprising turn of events. Growing up, I’ve heard my father glorify Prometheus, for he dared to defy his boundaries and bring us, mere human beings, the greatest gift of all time- fire. Bedtime stories were about how Cleopatra conquered nations with her brilliant diplomacy. All these stories were to motivate me that I can cross any mountain and reach any dream of mine. For a long time, I have considered my shortage of knowledge about my limits as a blessing that has been handed to me so that I can push myself to newer heights. My community has always applauded the achievements and triumphs that they believe strengthen our position in society. Took me long enough to figure out that the star that burns bright also dies soon. The incentives that fuel this forceful feat of success are built on a pillar of cards that embody years of reproach, apprehension, anxiety, and fear. The chase ends at some point, with us being exhausted and doubtful of our stacked shelf full of medals. Maybe after years of internalized conditioning, we must take a break from chasing this external validation and give ourselves a pat on the back for running this far. Maybe we wouldn’t look for approvals like scraps if we were kind enough to hand that to ourselves. Maybe Icarus can save himself after all.
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