Don’t chase success; chase growth.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

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Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood! Today’s writing prompt is one that instantly made me pause and smile: “What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?”

In our lives, we hear countless words of guidance — from parents, teachers, colleagues, mentors, or even from a stranger passing by.

But once in a while, a single line shines so brightly that it becomes a compass, guiding us through doubts and detours.

For me, that advice came from my Big Brother, who said:

“Don’t chase success; chase growth. Success will follow.”

At the time, I was a young student, restless and impatient to “make it big.” I wanted clear shortcuts, a formula for instant achievement.

But my Brother’s words planted a different seed. They encouraged me to focus on learning, experimenting, and stretching myself — rather than obsessing over applause or recognition.

Why This Advice Stands Out

So many of us grow up with an invisible checklist: get a good degree, find a good job, earn promotions, buy a house, travel.

Ambition is fine, but we often mix success with happiness. Just when we achieve one goal, another comes up, and we end up running on a never-ending treadmill.

The wisdom of “chasing growth” gently shifts the spotlight from outcome to journey. Growth is internal — it’s about becoming wiser, kinder, more capable, more resilient.

It doesn’t fade when circumstances change, and it isn’t tied to anyone else’s approval. Success, on the other hand, can be fragile; it depends on trends, competition, or luck.

By focusing on growth, you build a steady foundation. Even if you stumble, the skills and insights you’ve gathered stay with you.

That’s why athletes train for hours beyond the applause of the stadium, why writers fill notebooks long before a publisher calls, and why entrepreneurs persist through early failures.

They’re invested in becoming, not just arriving.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Embracing this advice has taught me some powerful lessons:

1. Curiosity is a superpower.
   When you aim to grow, you approach life with open curiosity. Every conversation, every book, every setback becomes an opportunity to learn.
   I stopped fearing “not knowing” and began asking more questions.
   
2. Progress over perfection.
   Chasing growth helps you let go of the need to be flawless. You’re allowed to be a work in progress.
   That mindset gave me permission to start projects without waiting for perfect conditions — and ironically, that’s when the best work began to happen.
   
3. Resilience blooms from learning.
   Growth-oriented people don’t crumble as easily in tough times. Instead of seeing failure as the end, they see it as feedback.
   
   When I once lost an important opportunity, I focused on what the experience was teaching me rather than what I had lost.
   That shift made recovery faster and more meaningful.
   
4. Success becomes a by-product.
   The funny thing is, when you focus on growth, success often sneaks up on you.
   Promotions, recognition, or financial rewards start to appear as side effects of your dedication, not as your sole motivation.

Applying This Wisdom Daily

You don’t need grand gestures to live by this advice. Start with small, intentional habits:

• Read something that stretches your thinking.
  
• Seek feedback, even if it’s uncomfortable.
  
• Reflect on your day: What did I learn? How did I grow?
  
• Celebrate effort, not just results.

Even a modest shift — like treating challenges as “training grounds” instead of threats — can rewire how you experience life.

My final submission

Looking back, I see how that single sentence from my Big Brother has touched every area of my life — from work to relationships, from hobbies to the way I recover from disappointments.

Growth is a lifelong adventure, and its rewards run deeper than any medal or paycheck.

So, dear friends, the next time you feel pressured to “arrive” somewhere fast, pause and ask yourself:

Am I growing through this?

The answer will gently guide you forward, one step at a time, toward becoming the best version of yourself.

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

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Categories: infotainment

Tags: #Life, #mental health, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2069, featured, motivation, personal-growth, writing