Have you ever heard the voice of the Not-Good-Enough whispering to your ear about all the things you haven’t achieved, the talent you lack, the things you don’t have or the things you haven’t done?

I don’t hear that voice very often these days but I have been thinking about it and wondering why our world seems to be so obsessed with achievement. It’s a rather exhausting way of going about life, isn’t it?

That voice, is the voice of a meritocratic society that we could very well live without.

The Illusion of Meritocracy

Meritocracy. The dictionary defines meritocracy as a political, social, or economic system where power, influence, and rewards are assigned solely on the basis of ability and achievement—not on background, privilege, or irrelevant personal traits. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? A system where people succeed based purely on talent and hard work.

At first glance, that might seem reasonable. Work hard, develop your talents, and you’ll be rewarded. But here’s the problem: in a meritocratic society we seem to determine an individual’s worth based on our accomplishments and performance. Our worth becomes then conditional and reliant on external factors which is not the best spot to place ourselves in. Not to mention that in the world we live in not everybody has equal opportunities to develop their talents and not all talents are valued equally. That doesn’t sound like a fair or reasonable system to me.

Why I Reject the Achievement Treadmill

I find this problematic because once we internalise this achievement mindset, we step onto a hamster wheel that never stops spinning. No matter how much we achieve, it’s never enough. There’s always another milestone, another accolade, another way to prove ourselves. The race is exhausting. It drains us, leaving no time to rest, reflect, or simply enjoy life.

Must we perceive ourselves as worthless because we have not achieved success as defined by an external entity? And who or what is this external entity with the power to decide what success is or whether your talents and accomplishments are or are not valuable and deserving of reward and acknowledgement?

No wonder people are burning out. No wonder anxiety and depression are rampant. Who can truly thrive in a system that ties self-worth to a never-ending cycle of competition? We don’t have to run that race. We don’t have to prove ourselves to anyone.

A Different Way to Live

I didn’t always feel this way. I have wanted success just as badly as anyone else. I have felt the need to prove my worth and to be acknowledged. That’s the narrative I learnt from the world around me.

At some point, I took a step back and saw the absurdity of it all. Yanis Varoufakis said it best:

“All systems of domination work by enveloping us in their narrative and superstitions in such a way that we cannot see beyond them. Taking a step or two back, finding a way to inspect them from the outside, allows us a glimpse of how imperfect, how ludicrous, they are. Securing this glimpse keeps you in touch with reality.”

That glimpse changed everything for me. I realised I could opt out.

The Freedom of Simple Living

In my personal vision of Simple Living, worth isn’t something I earn—it’s something I already have. I don’t need to prove myself. I don’t need titles, awards or fancy jobs to be a valuable member of my community. I believe we all have something to give to the world, and our gifts and talents, whatever they might be, are enough. So, I am enough.

In this vision of Simple Living I learn the things I learn and work on the things I work because I’m curious, I’m interested and I care, not because I’m after recognition. I rest because I respect my body and mind, not because I’ve “earned” a break. I fail, I make mistakes, and I try again—not because failure is a lesson in resilience, but because it’s simply part of life. And when I spend time with people, I’m present. I feel joy, not the anxiety of being measured and judged.

Can you feel how much lighter it is here?