Are you ambitious? Do you have a strong, persistent desire and determination to achieve something, to attain something, to succeed in something? What is that “something”?

Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish philosopher and satirical writer who was born in 1795, defined his “something” as follows:

I've got a great ambition

to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.

The life and times of a Victorian high achiever

According to historians, letters and other authors of his time, a typical working day in the life of Carlyle looked like this:

• Out of bed early (his Calvinistic upbringing demanded this)
• Horse riding for an hour (on a horse named Yankee)
• Breakfast (a large, substantial one)
• Reading and writing (profusely in a sound-proof study till lunch-time)
• Lunch (strictly regimented according to his health problems)
• Reading newspapers and foreign literature (to feed his thoughts and writing)
• Long walks or socialising with friends, intellectuals and writers (till dinner-time)
• Dinner (preferably plain and home-cooked)
• Correspondence (a massive amount of letters to friends, family, authors, etc.)
• Relaxing with his wife (she went to bed early)
• To bed late (he was a night owl and his health issues made sleeping difficult)

Do you agree with me that his life looks anything but boring? But do you also agree with me that if such a schedule results in fame, wealth and success you would happily exchange yours with his?

Is your daily schedule not at least twice as long? Especially if you add everything you do with and for your child(ren) if you are a parent? (Carlyle did not have kids.) And do you get to do exercise, a hobby and visiting with friends on most of your work days?

The lives and times of 21^st century human beings

I don’t think we need to debate this: The demands to achieve our ambitions, dreams and goals are much more hectic in this day and age. We live rushed, busy, noisy, stress-full lives and struggle to find what makes us truly happy.

Amidst all that we do, we feel that something is missing. That we need more, should be doing more. We look at our schedules filled to the brim with obligations and work in all shapes and forms (yes, stay at home parents work too!) and still we feel not quite worthy enough.

We are all addicts! Addicted to the lie of “not good enough”! Social media amplifies this unnatural pressure through our 24/7/365 connectivity. We think “doing” is what will bring peace and satisfaction and forget everything about “being”.

Carlyle did not live in extreme luxury, but still far more privileged than the average worker in Victorian times. He acknowledged this and felt a deep responsibility to be a moral guide.

He read more, produced more and interacted with other experts more than his peers. Yet, he still feared not being busy enough. He drove himself mercilessly to do better, while others deemed him more than good enough.

He suffered debilitating pain from dyspepsia and other chronic health issues. The physicians of his time knew these were linked to stress and lack of sleep and warned him to limit his excessive work. He refused to listen and held onto his ambitions of doing more.

What is the lesson here? 

Like Carlyle, like all human beings, we want to be loved, validated and seen as interesting. This is why we fear a boring, mundane, plain, common, uncool, inconspicuous life.

In short we fear our own simplicity and that it will make us unlove-able, unacceptable, unsuccessful. And yet, the more we do, the less satisfied we become.

We become unhappy and feel unwelcome and uncomfortable in our own skins. Our work starts to feel like useless, pointless slavery.

We become dishonest people, we wear masks to hide our true temperament. We adorn ourselves with false achievements and materialistic acquisitions to show society that we do more and have more. But it is never enough.

What is the solution or the opposite of this? Simplicity.

To live a simple, boring, mundane life that fits the colour of your temperament. To discover who you were born to be and to then simply be that unique person. To do less that is performative and to be more what is truly “you”.

If in the process you land in the spot light or become successful it will feel normal and like home, without social anxiety and unbearable pressure. If in the process you remain anonymous and do not keep up with the Joneses, it will feel normal and comfortable, without feelings of inferiority or envy.

This is authenticity. It is honesty. It is the most truthful way to be because you’re not adding anything to yourself.

You’re defying society’s pressures. You’re defending your right to be your imperfect, flawed, sometimes boring, you. You’re being who your Creator made you to be: A worthy, lovable, capable human being.