Approval. Status. The twin thieves of a man’s soul.

They come softly, like a gentle breeze, whispering promises of belonging, respect, and glory. But they leave you empty, stripped of yourself, hollowed out by the endless chase. Giving yourself over to these pursuits dooms you to a Sisyphean life. Approval is always fleeting. Status begs for even greater status.

It is the life of a dog chasing its tail—spinning, panting, and exhausted, but no closer to a real prize.

These pursuits lead to an impoverished end: a sense of disillusionment, and a feeling that there must be more to life than this.

The world will tell you what to want. They will dress it up in gold and say, “This is success.” It might be a title. A corner office. A car that gleams in the sunlight. Or the applause of a crowd. These things are not evil in themselves, but they are bait. They are tools that trap and shrivel one's soul.

When a man or woman makes them their reason to wake up each morning, their purpose, that person ceases to live fully. Their life becomes a shadow, living by the light of others’ approval.

But there is another way. A harder way, perhaps, but a truer one. A person can choose to turn his or her back on the clamor of the crowd. To step away from the stage and the spotlight. To listen instead to the quiet voice that speaks in the solitude of one's own heart.

That voice will not shout. It does not flatter. But it knows who you are. It will guide you, if you let it, toward the things that make your spirit come alive. It will point you to the work you were made to do—the things that interest you, challenge you, and bring you joy.

And when you find that work, you will find freedom. The freedom to be who you truly are, to do what you truly love, and to live a life that is authentically yours.

The pursuit of your calling is not without cost. The world will not understand. They will ask why you do not follow the script. They will call you foolish, reckless, even selfish. But their judgment does not matter. What matters is this: Are you doing what you love while also following the call of duty.

What duty? To use your gifts to their fullest. To take care of those who count upon you. To add something to the life of others rather than be someone who takes but never gives back.

Are you using the gifts that were given to you? Are you living as the man or woman you were meant to be?

To live authentically requires one to trade applause for peace, status for substance, approval for truth. It is to measure your worth not by the opinions of others but by the satisfaction and results that have been forged on the anvil of meaningful work.

And here’s the thing: When you stop chasing approval, you often find that respect comes unbidden. When you cease striving for status, you gain something greater—integrity. People are drawn to the man or woman who knows themself and lives without pretense.

The further you travel down this road the less you will care about admiration or status. You will by that time deeply know that life’s riches are found in meaningful relationships and the work that you were called to do rather than in receiving recognition and praise.

So leave the chase to others. Let them scramble for applause and titles while you tend to your work, your passion, your craft and a life of significance.