Take a quick glance over social media and what do you see?
Not just success stories, but an illusion of success. It’s often one tied to pride in worldly status and the ego’s idea of elevation, rather than true spiritual values or conscious growth.
Behind that constant stream of pride in social media wins, there’s often an emptiness many of us feel but don’t talk about. Even the mental health conversation can sometimes get tangled up in the same story, feeding into the very channels it’s supposed to challenge — still keeping us focused on external achievements instead of our true inner peace.
In this edition of the Smiley Blue Newsletter, I’m sharing where I’m at, breaking down the midlife quest for meaning, and exploring what it really means to find some peace beyond the noise of social media achievements.
Cobwebs in the Corners
This is an honest musing about the place where I'm at right now, and I'm certain I'm not alone in feeling this way.
I was raised in a family that equated success purely with worldly status and wealth. Inner happiness, faith, and one’s own spiritual needs were swept away like cobwebs in the corner of a room — out of sight, out of mind. Inner peace, a meaningful life, and happiness just wasn’t discussed in our house. Our parents, who on the surface appeared to have it all, were actually deeply unhappy people.
“Though unseen, the dust gathers — until we face what lies beneath.” — Inspired by Kabbalah teachings
The thing with cobwebs is, even if you brush them away, they always come back again. They creep back into the corners of your house, and mind when you’re not looking. You might ignore them for a while, not even notice them, or promise to sweep them away later. But over time, the air gets cloying, clarity is a fog and the space feels off. You can’t quite explain it, but you know something’s not right. That’s how it was growing up —a house and family that always looked fine on the outside, but inside it was unsettled. We all felt it, even if no one said a word.
The Illusion of Winning
I find myself now, at 54, still trying to release and break free from that false illusion of success so many of us were handed. Hop on LinkedIn and you’ll see it playing out in real time — the programming, front and centre. Post after post of people announcing the latest promotion or goal they’ve managed to hit. Then there’s the steady stream of people responding, offering up praise.
LinkedIn — and social media in general — makes it look like everyone is winning and smashing their way through life with ease. But scratch the surface and you’ll see it’s all an illusion tied to the ego’s false idea of success and elevation through worldly means. That’s just what everyone does because, well, everyone’s doing it — but does anyone ever question why success is often measured by worldly status and wealth?
I often find myself wondering — are they actually happy? I mean really happy. Now that they've achieved the thing, or bought the shiny new object. Do they actually sit in peace with themselves at the end of the day? I certainly know there are those that do, yet there are many that don’t.
It’s strange too, because platforms like LinkedIn talk about mental health all the time — but bring up real spirituality, the deeper parts of a person, and there’s just not much space for it. It’s rarely mentioned that a lot of mental health struggles come from the exact environments people are giving their precious energy to day after day.
“Empty fame and hollow trophies cannot fill the quiet within.” — Paraphrased from spiritual tradition
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” — Mark 8:36 (Bible)
The Crone and the Undoing
So life has brought me to this phase where I’m in the middle of a transition. For women it’s called the “Crone” phase. It’s a word people don’t really like — it makes them think of something like a prune, all dried out, wrinkled and done with. But to me, it feels like a return to my authenticity. You stop exhausting yourself trying to be who and what everyone else expects you to be. You feel a deeper pull toward peace and honesty.
I think men go through something like this too, even if there’s no name for it. I’ve seen it. That point where what once mattered so much to them doesn’t sit quite the same anymore. Where something within starts letting go of chasing after the next iilusion of success. A sense that maybe all that striving wasn’t really the whole point after all. There begins a deeper search for some meaning to it all.
“In letting go, we find the freedom to simply be.” — Inspired by mystical tradition
This part of life doesn’t appear to be about building more, it feels more like a taking away of layers. Letting go of societal expectations that were never really yours to begin with. Roles you unconsciously stepped into without ever questioning the deeper why. Beliefs you carried because you thought that’s just what everyone does or should do — it’s a whole load of undoing. The odd thing is, no one ever tells you this part is coming.
“Shedding the layers that never fit reveals the skin beneath — soft, real, and alive.” — Paraphrased from spiritual wisdom
Resting in the In-Between
And here’s my question — why do I find myself in this place now? I actually don’t have an answer. Maybe we’re not supposed to know or perhaps it’s just a natural part of being human.
A lot of life is a bit repetitive and ordinary, and we’ve just never been taught to see that as enough. We’re constantly told to chase growth, reinvention, purpose — but some days are just mundane and don’t move forward. Trying something new like visiting a different place, or doing something you’ve never done before is great. Change gives you a bit of spark, a new breath of air, but of course, that’s not something you can always do every day.
So some days, you’re just here in the in-between, and that's fine too.
Today, I’m just sitting with that. The search for meaning and purpose can feel like a real achy headache sometimes. Like something you’re supposed to have all figured out, clear goals and all that, but the answers won’t come. Maybe we just are, and it all just is.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Bible)
We all have our time — just like everything else in nature. It passes so quickly in the blink of an eye.
None of us have anything to prove.
Whatever it is, was or will be — it’s simply enough.
If this week’s message brings you value, then give as you wish or subscribe as a regular member to keep this space alive in the spirit of reciprocity. Your generosity helps us continue sharing light and healing through Smiley Blue, and this month supports the Creator Share Foundation — aiding children and animals in urgent need.
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With gratitude and light,
Smiley Blue
Lisa Precious
אהבה אמת | מתן | זרם
(True Love | Gift | Flow)
