Microtheme Before and After

 Before Revision:

I love striving for the best. Whether it’s in school, fitness, or anything in between, I enjoy accomplishing goals and finding out what I am capable of in the process. There is a natural inclination that I feel to achieve greatness, yet I balance this with other things that bring me happiness such as relaxing and enjoying time with family and friends. I have always wondered: why do some people spend a large portion of their lives working towards the unattainable rather than balancing it with the simple? 

The purpose of life is an age-old question, but it is probable that everyone wants to be both happy and satisfied with their lives. Despite this, it is difficult to figure out how to balance both happiness and satisfaction, which could potentially cause one to be perfectionistic in their overall approach to life. Another potential cause is that we as humans live out of curiosity. There are endless opportunities in every area of life to explore and the temptation to pursue all of them is likely unquenchable when one’s mind is set on limitless wonder. Another probable reason is that comparison and competition tend to both be big focuses in many people’s lives, presumably leading to a constant desire for greatness in order to stand out and seem special.  

If individuals focus more on the true reasons why they live their lives as glory seeking as they do, they’ll be able to better shape their lives into living in a way that makes them feel fulfilled not just happy or successful. 

After Revision:

    I love striving for the best. Whether it’s in school, fitness, or anything in between, I enjoy accomplishing huge goals and finding out what I am capable of in the process. Seeking achievement is a cornerstone of my life and can bring great joy at times, but it can also bring great detriment. What are some of the consequences of going for big goals? 

    A main consequence of chasing huge goals is that one might not accomplish what they strive for. One not getting what they work hard for can often result in pessimistic thoughts and poor self-esteem among other negative emotions, which can all cloud having a positive, healthy mentality. Another potential consequence of having high aspirations is the possibility of succeeding without fulfillment. One can achieve every goal set, but not feeling fulfilled results in a feeling of absence. Emptiness is the opposite of what one who has big ambitions sets out for, yet they may end up right back where they started mentally if fulfillment doesn’t result from their success. Finally, one may get so caught up in chasing their big goals that they lose touch with the non complex, joyful parts of life. Achieving big goals could have the potential to take time away from valuable things like spending time with family or simply relaxing. 

    If we begin to think more insightfully about the consequences of our big goals, we may discover that we tend to lose track of some minor yet important goals in our lives. Additionally, thinking about our big goals may also reveal the importance of intermediate goals, consequentially helping us to straighten our priorities out.