The False Sense of Achievement
Sometimes, achievements can be superficial, an escape from our reality in a way that makes progress feel alive, giving us more hope and, in a certain way, showing what one can or can’t do.
Many times, people, including myself, tend to create in their minds a false sense of progress, an objective that, even though it’s imaginary, can motivate us to strive for more or show us another objective that may seem unrealistic.
For instance, when walking on a pedestrian crossing with lines on the floor, you might imagine a reality where something bad happens if you step on those lines, so your goal becomes to avoid them. When playing single-player games, your imaginary goal might be to collect every item. When running a marathon, your goal is to run or walk a certain distance. All these examples prove that we generate goals in our lives — small achievements that we create to feel successful at something.
And why do we create these imaginary achievements? Well, it feels natural.
It feels natural for us to set goals, challenging tasks that make us feel accomplished. Without these goals, there is nothing beyond. If your desire is based on getting rich, or being good at some profession, when one accomplishes that, what comes next? One might feel lost after reaching the goal he designed, because it was only a “default” one.
I, sometimes, create small tasks just for myself, like playing games against AI opponents and beating them, even though I know they are only programmable enemies. It doesn’t mean anything to others; technically, it doesn’t prove anything about me. But for me, it means I did it. I wanted to feel great at something, and I did, even with the smaller things.
Having these little tasks, even for the smaller stuff, feels natural. They are important. It gives a sense of accomplishment, even if it’s temporary. The great feeling of success makes us happy and accomplished. It’s as if we didn’t have much, but that small feeling is everything at the end of the day when you go to sleep and say, “I did it!”
I can use myself as an example because I do that all the time. Reality gives me opportunities, and I create new ones. I love to read, so my objective might be to read 10 books in 2 weeks or write 10 articles in 1 week. I’m not obligated to do so, but I want to do it.
Why?
Because if I accomplish that, the reward will be that I’ve made progress in my career and my job. It will mean, to me, that I was able to do it, and I’ll be happy because of my own effort. I could’ve done it in more time, I could’ve already done it before, but at that time, I achieved what I wanted the way I wanted. No one will be telling me, “Oh my gosh, congrats!” or “I could’ve done it,” because they don’t care, and they don’t need to, the only person that can judge such small or complex task is me.
Self-improvement is the reward of these false achievements, and it should mean that you are great, you did that because you wanted to, and you were capable of doing it. It should be the “single-player” task you created for yourself. No one can judge or say anything about it. You can share your objective, but no one can do it for you. No one can walk on the pedestrian crossing and avoid stepping on the lines for you; no one can play the game and collect every item for you; that would mean they did it, not you. No one can walk or run the marathon the distance you want, only you can do it the way you want to do it. No one can steal your achievements.
These are necessary feelings that one needs to stay motivated and happy, to feel great about themselves, and to keep creating more imaginary achievements to maintain that motivation. Life gives you a road, and you create your own achievements, even for the smaller things.
Feel happy about yourself, give yourself challenges, small tasks, for you to accomplish. No one will do it for you. If you feel lost in your self-progress or want more in your life. Do stuff you like, and create imaginary achievements for yourself.
It will be great, and you will feel it.
Thank you for reading.
I don’t have a schedule with what I publish, short stories or thoughts.
I just write what I want when I want it. Trying to alternate between both.
I only hope you like what I write and feel what I try to share, my own mind.
Thank you!
