Some people have a rags-to-riches story.
Some have a riches-to-riches story.
Some have a riches-to-rags story.
And some… just have a rags-to-rags story.
Why? We don’t know for sure.
But what we do know is that each of us is living a story that unfolds every single day — in traffic jams, at office meetings, over missed appointments, and through late-night
“what am I doing with my life” moments.
In our own story, we’re the lead character — battling inbox overflow, trying to eat healthy while stress-eating chips, coping with missed promotions, and celebrating victories like the “Congratulations” text from the recruiter that you thought would never arrive.
And while we’re playing our part, we’re constantly watching other lead characters. The neighbor who just bought a Tesla. The friend who just posted their “dream job” announcement. The colleague who somehow has time for morning runs, homemade lunches and an accelerated career.
Their stories look better scripted. So, we try to rewrite ours. We change jobs, cities, relationships, or even professions — hoping to step into their movie. Fear, social media and self-judgment act as a catalyst for this change.
But that’s not what happens. We don’t end up in their story. We end up in a brand-new one — one that’s partly theirs, partly ours, and completely unpredictable. There’s a tension between the need for growth and the need for being ourselves.
Research suggests that what matters most for happiness isn’t how our story compares to others, but whether we see meaning and growth in the chapters we’ve lived. People who see their story as evolving report higher well-being. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
That means even the slow chapters, the confusing ones, the stagnant ones — still count. They’re part of the story too. Growth doesn’t always look like a plot twist; sometimes it’s just turning the page and showing up again tomorrow.
So maybe it’s okay if your story doesn’t sound like a blockbuster.
It’s enough that it’s YOURS - meaningful, and still unfolding every second.
It’s Good Enough!