The Fine Line Between Ambition and Avoidance
We live in a world where hustle is celebrated. Everyone’s grinding, building, chasing the next big thing. But I’ve noticed something in my years of coaching. This isn’t always the case. Some of my students have buried themselves in long hours, packed schedules; all to chase a goal for someone else’s validation, or hide something they didn’t want to face… Using the grind as avoidance. My students didn’t even know what “success” truly meant to them. Hustling wasn’t about achieving goals. It was about running away from themselves. If you’re working non-stop but still feeling stuck or unfulfilled, it’s not because you’re not doing enough. It’s because you’re avoiding the real work: the internal work. The work that builds self-awareness. The work that heals past wounds. The work that aligns your hustle with your purpose. I noticed that the hustle became escapism, and my students were extremely busy but not achieving any momentum. They were productive but not fulfilled, successful on paper but empty in reality. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what you can do about it: Start by asking yourself why. Why are you pushing so hard? Is it to build something meaningful, or to distract yourself from what you don’t want to face? Next, get clear on what you’re building. And by that, I mean to write your goals down! This is a vital step. I have a free journal you can use here with solid templates already in place for guidance. Success without alignment leaves you without a soul. Define what matters to you. Beyond the titles, money, or fame. Take a moment to pause. Hustle culture makes us believe that rest is a weakness, but clarity often comes in the stillness. Take a step back. Relax. Reflect. Make sure your actions align with your values. When you stop using hustle to escape, your efforts actually become more impactful. You’re not just working hard, you’re working on what matters. If your takeaway from this read is that hustling is bad, then you need to reread, it because that’s not what I’m saying. But when it’s a mask for deeper issues, it causes problems. |
| Much love, Shawn “Sheshn” Heshmatpour |
Recent Comments