Stress, anxiety, work pressure, toxicity, and negativity are words that have become all too familiar in our everyday lives. Whether at home or at work, the pursuit of success often feels like a relentless race—an endless struggle with no finish line in sight. We all want to get ahead, to achieve, to be recognized. But have we paused, even for a moment, to ask ourselves: Why? What is the true purpose of all this effort?

In the modern world, the metrics for success have been pre-set for us: money, fame, status, and influence. These external markers dominate our vision, pushing us to work harder, strive further, and, often, suffer silently under immense pressure. But where does this lead? After climbing the ladder of success, what do we find at the top?

What Is the End Result?

What’s left for us after enduring years of stress, sleepless nights, and emotional battles? A common sentiment we hear is: "Once I achieve this, I’ll finally be happy." But does that happiness ever truly arrive? More often than not, we find that each milestone we reach only sets the stage for another. The cycle continues.

The toll of this pursuit is real. Health deteriorates, relationships are strained, and personal fulfilment remains elusive. And yet, society convinces us that this is the way it has to be—the price of success. But, I ask you: Is that the purpose of life? Is the culmination of all this pain simply a trophy on the mantelpiece?

A Labour of Love: For Whom Do We Toil?

Amidst this chaos, a deeper question emerges: Who are we doing this for? Is it really for our own advancement, or do we toil for our loved ones, striving to provide them with a better future, financial security, and the comforts of life? For many, the idea of success is intertwined with the well-being of their family and loved ones.

But what happens when the people we labour for become distant or resentful because we are too busy to spend time with them? In our quest to create a perfect life for others, are we ironically sacrificing the very relationships that give meaning to our efforts?

It’s worth reflecting on: If we sacrifice everything—our health, our happiness, our peace—for success, are we truly providing our loved ones with the best of ourselves? Or have we mistaken the means for the end?

The Human Edge: A Lost Connection?

In this pursuit of material success, have we forgotten what it means to be human? We, as a species, were made for connection, for the community, for a purpose far beyond what can be quantified by paychecks or promotions. And yet, we often ignore these deeper needs in favour of surface-level achievements. The human edge we should be seeking is not how far we can outcompete othersFulfillment is an internal state, not an external achievement. The pain we endure in life and the challenges we face are all part of our growth process. Pain teaches us resilience, loss teaches us appreciation, and hardships often reveal our greatest strengths. But none of this is worthwhile if we don’t take the time to understand the lessons, grow from them, and but how deeply we can connect—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.

The human edge is that we are capable of more than productivity. We are capable of empathy, kindness, creativity, and love. These are the very qualities that differentiate us from machines and algorithms. Yet, in our obsession with efficiency and success, we are, in some ways, becoming more mechanical in our actions, chasing one goal after the other without stopping to understand the larger purpose behind it all.

What Is the Real Purpose of Life?

When stripped of external accolades, the purpose of life is