Achievement

Hey team,

I recently submitted some small essays for my university's scholarship portal. The prompt was asking for the writer to describe their largest accomplishment and what makes them special. I got very excited over this prompt to boast all about how amazing and perfect I am and how my immense value is only tied to what I have done. Lol, you guys know me, I couldn't write any of that without laughing. I wrote about realizing my unconditional value and the unity that brings to all others who again have unconditional value. I decided to share it here on the blog because it fits well into what I already discuss so much. Hope you enjoy.

    What I hold as the pillar of my success is not an achievement, award, or objective, but the quality of my entire being. My most meaningful achievement is realizing my own unquantifiable, unconditional worth and value, as well as recognizing the same unconditional value in others. This realization has deepened my love for them and myself. While intangible, I believe that authenticity beyond labels is the purest element in life and the key to our flourishing.

 I have come to realize through books, meditation, and seeing my own mother succumb to her addictions that the labels and objectives we assign to our worth are empty and love knows no conditions. While honest work is something to take pride in, the fruits that these actions bear are often beyond our mere control and therefore are a falsehood to attach to. In life, I see people who tout themselves as objectives that have been accomplished, whether it’s a GPA, internship, leadership position, or whatever. However, these are all just passing show and shed an extremely limited light on the journey that was traveled. Attaching one's value to what they have accomplished and neglecting to see that the accomplishment is merely the label we assign as conditional to our value is suffering and empty. I don’t enjoy playing around in this discussion, for many reasons but overwhelmingly the impersonal nature of it all. I firmly believe that all of us have infinite and unconditional value. This is only to be realized from within not from outside. My authenticity, my embracement of my humanity is what sets me apart yet what unites me with all. I do not see these traits as special to me, how could I. I do, however, feel deeply inspired and elated by these feelings to know that just by being me, I am beyond enough. While others may only reach this upon conditions, that will morph indefinitely from one to the next, I can reach this unconditionally. I believe it is my duty to demonstrate to others that they are unconditionally enough, by treating both them and myself as such, and knowing it to be true.

Beyond my major, this quality allows me to genuinely connect with others and nurture compassion and care. Knowing my own worth means I don’t need validation from others, nor do I need them to prove their value. By simply being themselves, they are enough. Together, we can embrace our authenticity and humility, love ourselves and each other, and let our actions speak for themselves. By detaching from the noise, we can allow love to flourish and reduce suffering. This realization not only enriches my personal life but also empowers me as a future healthcare professional, where empathy and genuine human connection are paramount.