Many in Singapore feel that competition here has reached unhealthy levels, fueling stress and anxiety across generations. We should broaden our definition of success, not only to reduce pressure, but because people differ. With varied preferences, strengths, and weaknesses, it stands to reason that success should be measured in diverse ways.
Poor self-awareness is a key driver of this narrow view. Lacking an understanding of our preferences, strengths, and weaknesses, we turn to external validation, resulting in the blind leading the blind. Hence, everyone crowds onto the same path, which may not be right for them.
Developing self-awareness is difficult, but the benefits justify the effort. We need to recognize that mistakes are essential to understanding ourselves and not let the fear of mistakes hinder us on our journey of self-awareness. As a community, we should embrace broader definitions of success, recognize that life is not a zero-sum game, and shift our energy from rivalry to cooperation.
I discuss the above in my concluding lecture for a freshmen course that I am teaching this semester: