What’s is the biggest lie we are told?

[Akaenyi]

When I was very little probably less than 5 years old I remember that I used to ask my mother how children entered into their mother's stomach whether God comes at night and open our mummies stomachs and put babies inside and I was told that it is God that put the babies inside then I would ask which process did God used to put the babies. It was always an innocent question because I was always fascinated how children entered inside their mother's stomach and I was told told different versions about how God fix the children into their mother's stomach. I had to later figure it out by myself that everybody has a father and mother and that it must be something about the both of them that makes babies happen. I also figured out about sex that if a father and mother does it that in the process God will put a baby in the woman's belly. It was later in life that I learnt from older kids about our reproductive system.

[Decimetre]

Honestly for me, one thing that the society is pushing too much is the Idea or fact that everyone must achieve success at same age or follow a particular pathway. As I grow older, I have realized that you see life is not a competition and everyone of us has different journey. Some people can marry early, others can decide to build a business first, some will also decide to focus on career and education. None of these automatically means that one person has passed the other person. I have come to learn that good health, financial stability, peace of mind and genuine relationship is much more valuable than running after milestones just to impress people. At the end, real success is not just you meeting up with society's expectations, but the real success is when you're living a life that gives you fulfilment or satisfaction.

You see, this singular belief is on the rampage and has eaten deep into the society especially for the fact that parents start from childhood to decide how their children's lives will have to follow. They decide that their children will be educated, finish school at young age and get married at a particular age and the society tilts in that direction. In most cases, this one line assumption doesn't work out perfectly, perhaps, not at all. When this happens, the parents start seeing the child as irresponsible or they start creating some unnecessary pressure that could ruin the ward's Psyche. I wish the society would understand that everyone has different pace of success and that someone achieved greatness at a young age does not imply that another person must achieve success at that same age.

I have seen several parents who openly tell their kids things like, 'see your mates'. This is not just humiliating, it also contribute to the social vices we see every day. Success should be what anyone seen it to be, not someone else measuring yourself with someone else because you will only end up pressuring yourself into things that will work you up.

[Callido]

Has there been anything that society encourages everyone to pursue that you no longer believe it is worth chasing and what exactly changed your mind? Share your thoughts, let’s learn!!

One of the biggest misconception was from an online video and it stuck with me ever since.

The misconception that life happens in sequence.

This is totally wrong, while growing up as a child, we made comments on things to achieve at a young age and how we will make life easier for our parents after school, get married and give birth, fly all around the world and so many on the list.

We grew up as adults and then, we also make plans focusing on our carrier, before splitting attention into family, relationships and the good fun in life, but what we don't know is that, if those plans doesn't happen in time, we've lost the fine years of our existence, instead of projecting life in sequence, we can actually have all happen simultaneously.

[Jasmyne]

Growing up we were told that certain things automatically leads to happiness, success like getting a degree, owing a house early, having a high paid job, getting married before a certain age, buying luxury cars and many more but as people grow and gain experience, many begin to question those beliefs.

Personally, I’ve noticed that some goals looks just Impressive form the outside but don’t always improve someone’s quality of life. On that other hand, some simple things like having peace of mind, good health, financial stability, meaningful relationship or having control over your own time often becomes much more valuable.

Has there been anything that society encourages everyone to pursue that you no longer believe it is worth chasing and what exactly changed your mind? Share your thoughts, let’s learn!!

I do believe that this things we were told while growing up aren’t lies, that’s just reality but where it looks like a lie is the fact that everyone won’t make it same time. Everyone has their own timing, if it works out for Mr A now through that process, might not work out for Mr B through that process that time, Mr B’s own might take a while.
Same thing with what makes me happy, might not be what makes the second person happy because we have different goal and trying to achieve different things in life.
So, what we were told when growing up or encouraged to pursue, worked for some persons, while some persons are still finding it hard.

[Rabata]

Growing up we were told that certain things automatically leads to happiness, success like getting a degree, owing a house early, having a high paid job, getting married before a certain age, buying luxury cars and many more but as people grow and gain experience, many begin to question those beliefs.

Success will not mean the same to every person. What is good for me may not be good for others. What I think is good may be bad for others. In society, success is generally understood to mean having a lot of money. If someone can establish himself before the right time, that is, if he can reach his destination before the set time, he is success. The one who has a lot of money is success, but this idea is not the same for everyone. There are many who do not have enough money but they are much happier in terms of human life. Real happiness cannot be considered only by money and wealth. Although these are social ideas, they are not entirely true. While money is the key to success in people's lives, many consider physical health and mental peace as the key to success.

[Opiate32]

Financial freedom and real life freedom where your time isn't attached to any company just to work I think is the big realization of many now because life is uncertain, so we appreciate these things that we have now.

This is actually a point where many people understand later in life. Someone can earn a very high income and yet have almost no control over their own time while another person earning less may have freedom and peace of mind. It shows why success is becoming more personal instead of being measured by salary or material possessions alone.

[Royal Cap]

However I will say that the goals that society considers important may be good for many, but the reality of everyone's life is not the same. The same job or the same lifestyle may give relief to one person, while for another it may be the cause of daily stress. With time many people realize that it is more important to understand what is really needed in their own life than to appear successful to others.  Because God sent each person to the world with a different mindset. If everyone thinks the same way, people will become like robots, In the end there is no single formula for happiness.

[Samlucky O]

Personally, I’ve noticed that some goals looks just Impressive form the outside but don’t always improve someone’s quality of life. On that other hand, some simple things like having peace of mind, good health, financial stability, meaningful relationship or having control over your own time often becomes much more valuable.

Has there been anything that society encourages everyone to pursue that you no longer believe it is worth chasing and what exactly changed your mind? Share your thoughts, let’s learn!!

That's actually true though, when I was a kid growing up, I was told without going to school I will not become successful and no woman will accept to marry a man that is not educated. And they made me believe that after graduating from higher institution, I will automatically get a job that I will work in the biggest industry where I will be heavily paid and I will build house, open businesses and get married and build my empire. Infact they made me believe that anyone that didn't attend school can not be successful. And I will not get married if I am not educated. They made me believe that to succeed in everything you do in life, you must be educated.

Well I am not saying education is not important, but they make it look like anyone who didn't go to school does not deserve better or can never succeed.