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No Single Life Pursuit Is Worth Your Sanity

Focus on collective experiences of joy

Thomas Oppong
3 min readJan 8, 2023
Artwork: Starry Night Over the Rhone by Vincent van Gogh

In our fast-paced, success-driven world, it can be all too easy to become fixated on a single life pursuit, whether that’s a career goal, a relationship, or a material possession. But, no matter how important our goals may seem, it is never worth sacrificing our mental health.

In our modern world, ambition and the pursuit of success are often revered. We are constantly encouraged to strive for more and to push ourselves to the limit to achieve our goals.

However rewarding it may feel to reach the summit of success, it is essential to remember that no single life pursuit is worth sacrificing your sanity. Anything worthwhile should not completely consume you at the expense of your sanity.

‘The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil,” says Marcus Tullius Cicero. When we become too driven and focused on a single goal, we can quickly become overwhelmed and exhausted, leading to various physical and mental health issues.

Even if you’re devoted to a single endeavour (work, relationships, or creative project), take time for self-care, allow yourself to rest, and invest in your mental health.

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Thomas Oppong
Thomas Oppong

Written by Thomas Oppong

Making the wisdom of great thinkers instantly accessible. As seen on Forbes, Inc. and Business Insider. For my popular essays, go here: https://thomasoppong.com

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