Fame: The Good The Bad, & The Empty

Robin Williams, Risk, & The Pursuit of Happiness

Let’s say you’re someone who usually get 5 likes. Then, one post gets 10. 

Now let’s say you’re someone who usually get 50,000 likes. Then one post gets 100,000. 

I would argue both people are having a similar experience. Although their lifestyles may differ significantly, the psychological effect on both is likely almost identical. 

Since most of us don’t have fame, we speculate about what a cure-all magic it must be. The problem is, as humans we’re scalable in our thinking. The person who normally gets 50,000 likes doesn’t live in a constant euphoria over how well known they are. Instead, their scales change. A post that gets 30,000 likes doesn’t make them say “HOLY CRAP THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE LIKED THIS” but rather “why didn’t it get to 50k? Most of my posts do.” 

A tragic example of this kind of thinking is Robin Williams. On his show, Joe Rogan once spoke about how depressed Robin was; having gone from starring in big movies to being relegated to The Crazy Ones.

You’re never too successful to be unhappy.

Now, given that we’ve talked about the limits of fame, let’s take it from the other angle.

“Human nature is a composite of contrary elements.” Thomas Aquinas

Most people avoid their dreams. Most people distract themselves to death. If we’re not going to do that, we need a dream. And that dream MUST be big. It MUST be unrealistic. It’s Un-reality is the very thing that gives it it’s power. Power to overcome our cynicism, to overcome our fear.

If Aquinas is right, humans are a collection of warring desires. Therefore, we need huge, captivating ideals to pull all our disparate, depressed, distracted parts together. To focus us.

If your dream isn’t crazy, throw it out.

The cost of dreaming is risk. The cost of safety is resentment, depression & regret. You decide.