As I sit here, sipping on my cup of black coffee and penning down my thoughts, I can’t help but reflect on how many of us truly know what we want from life. How many of us take the time to truly understand ourselves, our passions, and our capabilities?

Humans, by nature, are mimetic and social beings. We tend to look at others for inspiration, for guidance, and often, we end up mirroring their aspirations. While there’s nothing wrong with finding inspiration in others, the problem arises when we start adopting other people’s goals without questioning whether they align with our own interests and abilities.

We see someone start a business, taste success, and suddenly we’re filled with the burning desire to start a similar venture. We forget to consider if we have the same passion, the same skills, or even the same level of commitment that made them successful in the first place.

Choosing a career or a life path because it seems ‘cool’ or because it’s what others are doing is like setting a trap for our future selves. Over time, I’ve met a lot of ‘successful’ people, and it’s disheartening to see how many of them feel unfulfilled or unhappy. Why? Because they’ve been chasing someone else’s dreams, not their own.

Imagine this: two people are running a race. One is meant to go east, the other west. But the one meant to head west decides to follow the one going east. They might reach a destination, sure, but it’s the wrong one. And that’s exactly what happens when we blindly follow someone else’s path.

We’re often guilty of setting goals to impress others. We put on a show, painting a picture of success and satisfaction for the world to see. But behind closed doors, when the cameras stop rolling, we’re left feeling empty. Because those aren’t our goals, they’re just performances.

Many of us are living out our parents’ dreams, chasing after goals they couldn’t achieve. We forget that we are unique individuals, with our own passions, strengths, and visions for life.

So, I urge you today, look at your goals, your resolutions. Take a day off alone and ponder deeply. Ask yourself: “Do these goals truly serve me? Are they a reflection of my passions, my abilities, my dreams? Or are they someone else’s?”

Whose goals are they? If they’re not yours, it’s time to reassess and redefine. After all, it’s your life. You should be the one calling the shots.