Hey Reader,
For years, society has painted success as the ultimate goal.
Work hard, achieve greatness, and happiness will naturally follow.
But you’ve climbed the success ladder so why does it still feel… hollow?
Why is there this nagging pressure to keep proving yourself?
Well, success is complicated.
In today’s newsletter, we’ll explore how you can find& sustain joy in your journey amidst all these challenges.
🗯️ The struggle of Anthony Bourdain
Have you heard of Anthony Bourdain?
The talented chef who redefined what it meant to “make it” in the culinary world?
From being a broke restaurant cook to becoming a global icon with a great career; awards, TV fame, and an incredible legacy.
But privately, he battled loneliness and disconnection.
Bourdain once reflected in an interview that success felt “isolating.”
He compared it to being a lone rider, pushing forward without really knowing what he was chasing anymore.
He finally achieved success but the climb didn’t bring the peace he expected.
If someone as iconic and admired as Bourdain could feel this way, think of how many others share the weight of these struggles in silence.
Bourdain eventually found joy in his journey by going beyond his role as a chef and valuing real stories, cultural exploration, and personal connections over just fame or money.
For him, it wasn’t just about being at the top of his profession, it was more of finding meaning in the food, the people, and the stories along the way.
How about you?
🧠 Success sometimes feels like a trap
You’ve worked tirelessly to be successful.
You’re so proud of how far you’ve come.
But somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like an exciting ride and more like a pressure to maintain what you’ve built.
The more you achieve, the higher the stakes, and the more you fear losing it all.
It’s as if you’re trying to prove your worth again and again.
Instead of celebrating wins, you’re already thinking about the next goal. And as exhausting as it is, it feels impossible to stop.
The higher up you go, the lonelier it often gets.
So you’ve lost some people on your way up to success.
Relationships have even become more transactional. You’re starting to wonder if people value you or what you’ve accomplished.
You did everything “right,” but there’s still this feeling of discontent.
Now you feel stuck, uninspired, and fear that maybe, just maybe, you’ve lost your sense of purpose.
You’re left with a successful life that is just filled with struggling to outdo your former self.
Where’s the happiness everyone promised you?
❤️ Find joy in the journey
Success doesn’t always feel good.
And that’s okay.
The solution isn’t throwing all your achievements away or just chasing more.
When you listen to and follow what really fuels your soul, you’ll realize there’s a whole world of success that’s slower, lighter, quieter, and far more meaningful.
You’ll take pauses to savor moments.
You’ll enjoy genuine conversation with someone who gets you.
A calm evening where you’re not glued to your phone.
You give yourself a simple celebration of progress that matters to you.
You’ll find yourself more energized, more connected, more alive.
You open yourself up to joy, not the fleeting kind tied to achievements, but the kind that comes from living a life that feels right in your heart.
You’ll chase your ambition in a way that lets you breathe, love, and thrive happily in a world that’s hellbent on preventing your peace and quiet.
🤲 There’s happiness at the top
If the weight of success feels heavier than it should, try these practices for a happier life:
- List the lies you’ve bought into. Write down the things you’ve been told or imposed on yourself about success. “Hustle is everything.”Don’t show weakness.”The bigger the number, the better the life.” Reflect on the ones that have made success less happy and get rid of every single one that doesn’t serve you anymore. Watch what happens when you stop living someone else’s script, and prioritize success that brings you joy.
- Taste life without your title: Introduce yourself to five new people without mentioning your job, achievements, or affiliations. Describe yourself through your passions, quirks, or values, but leave success out of the conversation. That’s how you remove the identity safety net in your mind and remind yourself that you are more than your accomplishments. There’s freedom from being seen for you, not your profile.
- End the cycle of ‘proving’ yourself. If you’re still looking for external validation, you’ve already lost. Stop working to impress the people who don’t matter. It’s a trap. Forget the Instagram likes, boardroom applause, or what people think. What do you want? Start showing up for that.
🎯 What does success mean to you now?
Do the markers of success you’re holding onto still feel true, or are they screaming someone else’s dream?
Do you feel the inner confidence of knowing you’re where you need to be?
If you don’t define your path, someone else will gladly define it for you.
Because fulfillment is something you choose, every day.
As Albert Schweitzer once said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
With appreciation,
Huw
P.S.: If you're tired of feeling unsuccessful despite your success, let's talk. My new elite mastermind concept is designed to help elite performers master the priorities that bring them joy....and keep them there. Just shoot me an email to get started.
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Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
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