I WAS recently called “little miss ambitious” and I was told that I need to live life at a slower pace. From studying, to travelling and grasping every opportunity that’s possible, it’s safe to say that I’ve been occupied and busy.
While those comments might sound harsh, they were very much needed. I needed to be told to stop and smell the roses. I needed to know whether I am perhaps not appreciating the little things at a manageable pace.
Unfortunately, I fell into the trap of believing that success is measured by living at a faster pace, collecting “accomplishments” like infinity stones.
We live in a world that celebrates ambition, with social media glorifying accolades and productivity. While this is a current reality, ambition becomes an unhealthy obsession rather than a motivating force.
Many of us, like myself, become the “little miss big ambitions” by chasing our goals and dreams one after the next. We constantly seek the best promotions, the next award, the next opportunity to achieve.
In a way, we remind ourselves that we will “rest” later and work hard now. We try to bargain with ourselves that we will even stop or slow down after the deadline or graduation has passed.
Do you think that often happens?
Most of the time, when people post their success stories on social media, we only get to see the end results. We rarely see the hidden costs of being highly ambitious, especially in very competitive environments.
We do not see the anxiety, the tears, the family issues, the financial burdens, the burnout or the exhaustion that sometimes accompany success.
There is pressure to always achieve more, with little room for joy and reflection.
I think ambition is good. It feeds our personality with a drive and willingness to grow, innovate and develop our skills and values.
However, ambition becomes a weapon against us when our value and self-esteem become tied to our productive output.
In a previous column, I stressed that we should not feel guilty about rest and rejuvenation. We should not overshadow the celebration of one accomplishment with the next objective outlined.
The truth is that slowing down does not mean giving up. Rest is not laziness. Taking a break does not diminish our potential; it sustains it.
Some of the most meaningful achievements come not from constant movement but from knowing when to pause, reassess, and protect our well-being.
Perhaps success should not only be measured by what we accomplish, but also by how we feel while accomplishing it.
After all, what is the value of reaching the top if we are too exhausted to enjoy the view?
In a culture obsessed with doing more, maybe the most radical act is allowing ourselves to slow down.
Sometimes, the strongest thing “Little Miss Big Ambitions” can do is give herself permission to rest.
