“The very substance of the ambition is merely the shadow of a dream” – William Shakespeare.
Ambition derives from the Latin ambitio, ‘a going around (to solicit votes)’, and, by extension, ‘a striving for honour, recognition, and preferment’. To be ambitious is to achieve first and foremost not for the sake of achievement itself (which is to be high-reaching) but for the sake of distinguishing ourselves from other people.
The truth is Ambition is the greatest poison there are. It brings all other poisons in: greed, violence, competitiveness, struggle, a constant state of war with everybody else.
Ambition functionally means you just want to be ahead of others. Surprisingly, if you think in bit of depth you will immediately realize that, ambition actually depends on creating an inferiority complex in you……!!! Unless inferiority complex starts existing in you, unless you are fully filled with it, ambition cannot function.
So everyone in childhood has to be wounded in such a way that he starts feeling a deep inferiority: that others are superior and he has to surpass them, otherwise he is nobody. Each child is taught to create a name in the world, fame in the world. Each child is told, “The way you are is not right. You have to prove yourself, you have to become somebody” ( as if you are not anybody yet!). Now unfortunately, this is the usual methodology of raising a child.
Sooner you realize better for you, that you are born with a certain flavor of your own, with a uniqueness, with an individuality. Nobody else is like you – nobody else has ever been like you – and nobody else will ever be like you. But this simple truth is never told to you. You are told, “Become somebody”; as if you are nothing. So, you have to become, you have to compete to become. And of course, then struggle starts, because everybody is told to become somebody.
Then naturally there arises a cut-throat competition. Everybody is against everybody else. Life becomes a war, a constant war. In this state there is no possibility of peace, love, silence, joy and celebration.
It is no surprise that ambition is often confused with aspiration. Unlike mere aspiration, which has a particular goal for object, ambition is a trait or disposition, and, as such, is persistent and pervasive.
From a purely psychological perspective, your ambition is actually an ego defence, which, like all ego/identity defences, serves to protect and uphold a certain notion of the yourself. Rather than respond with ambition, a person who lacks the strength and courage to take responsibility for his actions is likely to respond with less mature ego defences. If his ego is much bigger than his courage, the person might become dismissive or even destructive, the latter also being a means of attracting attention and sabotaging himself so as to furnish a concrete excuse for his failure.
Many a times ambition starts consuming your life without you realising it. Some symptoms may manifest which actually shows that you have become an “ambition addict”
- Ambition addicts are primarily interested in the outcome of an activity or the result. The addict remains frustrated most of his life.
- Ambition addicts fails to enjoy the activity itself and loose the joy of being in the moment.
- Ambition addicts yearn to free himself from insecurity and vulnerability. When life presents us with loose ends, confusion, frailties, and fallibility, ambition addicts become neurotic and panicked.
- In a choice between easy-does-it or fast-and-furious, ambition addicts will always choose fast-and-furious. He is forever in a rush, impatient with others, and always very, very
- Ambition addicts tackle each day with seriousness and severity. While the occasional victory may elevate his mood, it all too soon descend, when the high wears off, into doom and gloom.
- Ambition addicts’ hunger for forward movement and momentum. He avoids people, places, and situations that appear too staid, steady and stable.
- ambition addicts have a hard time relaxing. Unscheduled time fills him with dread. He finds it challenging to enjoy simple pleasures. If he must unwind, he prefers to do so through competitive activities or quantifiable hobbies.
- To actualize his dreams, ambition addicts ascertain who, among our family, friends, community members, and colleagues, can help achieve his goals. He usually prioritize interactions with such individuals.
You may find few or all of above symptoms and naturally you may defend it with justifiable reasons. Just make it sure , be aware and be unadulterated by your ego. Don’t ignore these symptoms
We must understand that we are designed to be creative and contributing. Unfortunately carrying the unknown burden of ego, people do get caught up in feeling like they failed their ambitions and then they suffer. Others pursue ambitions only to find them empty.
“But we are trained to be ambitious, and we know that it is important to be ambitious to acahieve what we want …So what to do.. Is ambition good or bad”
Consider that desire (ambition) isn’t good or bad. This struggle one faces is mostly internal but affects our view of the external. A good rule of thumb for growing a healthy dream is be heartfelt, be in flow, be aligned .
Let your ambition be “unambitiousness”. The next option (but not so appropriate) is being ambitious in only those things which are truly heartfelt, that unites the wisdom of “being” in the moment with “doing” in the moment …Just like growing a garden. Growing a garden is very similar to it..
Have a vision of what you’d like to see, till the soil, plant, tend… but then have patience as its growth happens in its own time. Water, tend, wait.
With great aspiration comes great responsibility. If you allow the fire of ambition to blaze beyond control, you risk hurting others. you risk harming yourselves. By learning to slow down, enjoy, give thanks, donate time, and dream anew, you may make space for breath and balance, patience and perspective. Surprisingly for you, you still continue to reach for the stars, but doing so with solid ground beneath our feet.