By Atiq Raja
In a world that never stops watching, judging, and rating, many of us wake up each morning already tired—not from work, but from expectations. Expectations of how we should look, what we should earn, whom we should marry, how fast we should succeed, and how loudly we should prove it. Somewhere between scrolling, comparing, and pleasing, we forget to ask the most important question: Is my soul at peace? Society is a loud, relentless place. It applauds achievements, labels people, sets timelines, and hands out invisible report cards. By the time we realize it, we are running a race we never signed up for—chasing milestones that do not excite us and wearing masks that do not fit.
The tragedy is not failure; the tragedy is success that leaves you hollow, success that meets applause but not satisfaction. The soul, however, speaks softly. It does not shout in trends or compete in comparisons. It whispers in moments of honesty—when you feel alive doing something simple, when time slows down, when you are at peace even if no one is watching. It does not measure itself against others; it cares only for alignment. When actions, values, and inner truth converge, the soul feels content. When they do not, even triumph feels hollow. To satisfy your soul is to choose meaning over image. It is to say no without guilt, yes without fear, and to prioritize authenticity over approval.
Some of the most fulfilled people live quietly, love deeply, and define success on their own terms. They may not trend, but they glow. Their lives are not curated for applause; they are lived with intentionality, with purpose anchored in inner truth rather than external validation. This is not a call to reject society entirely. We all live within systems, cultures, and responsibilities. There is dignity in collaboration, respect in fulfilling obligations, and wisdom in learning from others. But there is a difference between respecting society and surrendering to it. When society becomes the compass instead of the soul, life turns mechanical. We begin acting for “log kya kahenge” rather than “yeh mujhe theek lagta hai.”
Routine becomes a substitute for reflection, and the momentum of life carries us past our own inner compass. Satisfying the soul requires courage—the courage to be misunderstood, to move at your own pace, to change paths, and to disappoint others while staying true to yourself. Growth often looks like rebellion to those who benefit from your silence or conformity. The world rewards predictability, not introspection, yet it is only in the latter that one discovers the contours of true fulfilment. Choosing this path may make you feel isolated at first, but it also cultivates resilience, clarity, and a sense of self that is unshakable.
Ask yourself: Am I living or performing? Am I fulfilled or merely approved? If no one judged me, what would I choose? These are not rhetorical questions. They are the doorway to a life in which decisions are made with intention rather than obligation, where success is measured by peace rather than praise. The answers are not always comfortable, but they are transformative. Honoring the soul does not always produce spectacle. It does not make headlines, and it does not always attract admiration. Yet when we choose authenticity over imitation, a curious thing happens: society notices anyway. People are drawn to the confidence, calm, and groundedness of someone who acts from conviction.
Inspiration is no longer forced; it is natural. The soul, in its quiet power, has a magnetic effect that applause never can. The cost of ignoring the soul is high. Emotional exhaustion, chronic dissatisfaction, and a sense of emptiness are often the silent companions of lives spent performing. Material success may come, social standing may rise, yet the inner self remains restless. In contrast, even modest achievements feel abundant when the soul is aligned. Happiness becomes less dependent on recognition and more on harmony with one’s values and purpose. Feeding the soul requires honesty, purpose, and self-respect. It requires cultivating practices that bring calm and clarity: reflection, solitude, creative engagement, and moments of gratitude.
(The writer is a rights activist and CEO of AR Trainings and Consultancy, with degrees in Political Science and English Literature, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
