Reclaiming Your Edge: The Freedom of Knowing What Matters.
“The man who seeks happiness through external means is a fool, for he ties his soul to what is beyond his control.”
– Epictetus
Success was supposed to be the pinnacle, right? You’ve played the game, earned your stripes, and now you sit at the top of the mountain with the world at your feet. You’ve achieved what so many spend their lives dreaming of—wealth, recognition, status. And yet, here you are. Numb. Unsatisfied. Frustrated.
The very things you thought would bring you peace have become shackles, and the worst part is, no one seems to talk about this. Everyone else is busy idolizing the image of success, while inside, you’re wondering why none of it feels like it’s enough. Society tells you that you’ve “made it,” but when was the last time you felt truly alive? When was the last time you didn’t feel like you were running from one hollow victory to the next?
Success is a Cage
Here’s the hard truth: success in and of itself is a cage. You thought it was freedom, but in reality, it’s just a more expensive prison. The money, the accolades, the achievements—they all pull you away from the only thing that truly matters: purpose.
See, society has sold you a story that success is the finish line. You’ve been led to believe that the moment you achieve your goals, you’re set for life. That happiness and fulfilment are delivered alongside your pay-checks and fancy titles. But let me remind you of something Epictetus said two thousand years ago: “The man who seeks happiness through external means is a fool, for he ties his soul to what is beyond his control.”
Look around at your life right now. How much of it is truly yours? You’ve built this empire, but does it serve you, or are you now serving it? Are you chasing after something that feels elusive, like a dog chasing its own tail, or are you standing in your purpose?
The Myth of Achievement
The modern world thrives on distraction. It thrives on consumption and mindless ambition. The myth we’ve all been sold is that achievement brings happiness. But in truth, achievement is just another high, a temporary spike that leaves you feeling lower than before once it fades.
Here’s where it gets raw: the problem isn’t success itself. The problem is that you’ve bought into the lie that success was supposed to give you meaning. But you won’t find it in the zeros in your bank account, or in the praise of others. The more you rely on external validation to define your worth, the further you drift from your purpose as a man.
What is real success? It’s not the size of your house or the depth of your portfolio. It’s whether you wake up each morning knowing that you are aligned with something greater than yourself. It’s whether, in the quiet moments when no one is watching, you are at peace with who you are and what you stand for.
But here’s the killer: you’ve been trained to look outward for answers when the only place you need to look is inward.
You’re Just Another Cog Until You Find Your "Why"
The Stoics understood something that modern men have forgotten: the importance of your why. We’re all cogs in the machine of society until we step off the conveyor belt and take control. Your purpose can’t be handed to you. It can’t be bought, sold, or praised into existence by others.
Your "why" doesn’t care about your status or your wealth. It demands something deeper, an understanding of what truly matters to you beyond the noise of modern life. It demands that you strip away everything unnecessary and get back to the core of who you are.
Most men are terrified of this. It’s easier to stay on the treadmill of external success than to face the possibility that they’ve been chasing the wrong things all along. It’s easier to keep busy, to keep “winning,” than to sit with yourself in the silence and ask the hard questions.
But here’s the thing: if you don’t define your own purpose, someone else will do it for you.
The Death of Comfort
Comfort is the death of growth. Every time you settle into comfort, you’re choosing stagnation over transformation. Growth doesn’t come from winning, it comes from struggle, from challenge, from leaning into discomfort and using it as fuel to build the man you want to be.
You didn’t achieve success by playing it safe, so why the hell would you think that comfort is the answer now? Comfort is the enemy. It’s the silent killer of ambition, drive, and, most importantly, freedom. Real freedom isn’t about lying in luxury; it’s about standing in your purpose with a clear head and an unwavering will. It’s about being unshaken by the storms of life because you know who you are and what you’re here to do.
The more you retreat into comfort, the more you lose touch with that fire that once drove you. And the more you lose that fire, the more you fall into the same trap that millions of men have fallen into before you, a life of quiet desperation, masked by the trappings of success.
The Invitation to Be More
The call is simple, but it’s not easy. To reclaim your purpose, you have to strip away everything that isn’t aligned with it. That might mean walking away from things you thought mattered. It might mean giving up the image of success you’ve worked so hard to build. It might mean disappointing people who expect you to keep being the man they want you to be.
But what’s the alternative? Another ten years of running on a hamster wheel? Another decade of numbing yourself with shallow victories and mindless distractions?
You know deep down that you’re meant for more than this. You’ve tasted the fire before, and now it’s time to stoke it back to life.
Actionable Exercise: The Why and the Fire
Here’s where the work starts.
Reflective Exercise:
Sit down in a quiet place, away from distractions. Take a notebook, and write out the following questions:
What am I truly passionate about?
What would I do every day even if no one ever noticed or praised me for it?
What do I want my life to stand for beyond the material?
Take your time answering these. There are no right or wrong answers—only truth. The more brutally honest you are with yourself, the more clarity you’ll find.
Real-World Task:
Once you’ve reflected, take action. Choose one thing in your life right now that doesn’t align with your newfound purpose—whether it’s a business venture, a relationship, a habit, or even just a mindset. Remove it or change it. Don’t delay. The faster you shed what isn’t serving you, the quicker you’ll reignite your inner fire.
You’ve had success. Now, it’s time to seek significance. Purpose isn’t handed to you—it’s forged. The moment you start stripping away the layers of distraction and comfort, you’ll find that purpose waiting for you. And when you do, success will become a by-product, not the goal.
Real power isn’t found in achievement. It’s found in knowing who you are and living according to that truth every damn day.
