The Never-Ending Staircase: Why We Keep Chasing Dreams That Never End
Life Is a Staircase—Are You Climbing or Just Running in Circles?
We all chase a dream. We tell ourselves, “Once I get there, I’ll finally be happy.” But what if the finish line doesn’t actually exist?
Here’s the Life-Changing Story:
The Never-Ending Staircase
A 20-year-old girl named Arian had a big dream—to climb a mystical mountain where a wise sage at the top was said to know life’s greatest secret.
She trained for years, facing relentless storms, steep paths, and exhausting days. But she never gave up. She kept climbing.
One day, she reached the top. She felt proud and strong. The sage smiled at her—then pointed beyond the mountain.
Arian turned and saw another peak. It was taller, grander, and more breathtaking.
“The dream brought you here,” the sage said. “But dreams are not the end. They are steps. When you reach one, another appears.”
Arian understood. Life isn’t about achieving just one goal. It’s a journey. Every dream leads to the next. And that makes life an endless adventure.
"Success is not a destination, but the road that you’re on." – Marlon Wayans
Inspired by The Alchemist
The Reality of Chasing Dreams
Everyone in the world has a dream. Many of us shape our aspirations early in childhood.
Some achieve their goals later in life—only to find themselves chasing another one, like a dog chasing its own tail.
I believe 99% of people live FOR the dream, unaware that their current life is someone else’s dream currently. Only 1% truly live theirs own dream.
The problem? People take their current life for granted.
Even though Arian reached the top of a mystical mountain and dreaming the next one, she should have paused to acknowledge something important—she had already achieved one of the greatest and toughest goals of her life.
99% live for the dream, but only 1% truly live the dream.
How Many More Steps Do You Want to Climb?
Let’s say you’ve climbed hundreds, maybe even thousands of steps in your life—your career, ambitions, goals.
The real question is: How many more do you actually want to climb?
Most people don’t have a clear answer. They follow the crowd. They mumble vague responses like, “Maybe three more steps.” Others say, “Five more and I’m retired.”
But the truth? They just keep climbing. Even after they’ve reached the so-called “destination.”
Only a handful of people in this world have a plan for the final step—retirement.
I’ve asked people about retirement. Every single one of them has a fantasy about what it looks like. They’re dreaming about it.
The irony? Many could retire today. They have enough. The only trade-off? Maybe they save a little less for the future—not enough to affect their basic needs, though.
So why don’t they do it?
Because they don’t actually want to retire. They’d rather keep the dream alive in their head than live it in reality.
Wild, right?
"A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at." – Bruce Lee
The Harsh Truth About Dreams
I asked people who have actually retired about their experience.
The biggest lesson I learned?
Dreams are great… but only in dreams.
Reality never feels the same as the fantasy.
They spent years chasing this goal, picturing the perfect life once they got there. But when they finally did? Something still felt missing. Fulfillment didn’t arrive the way they had imagined.
Turns out, achieving the dream isn’t the hard part.
Finding joy in it is.
Agree?
Enjoy the Step You’re On
If there’s one thing to remember, especially you (yes, the one reading this newsletter), it’s this:
The life you’re living right now is someone (actually many people’s) else’s dream.
If you ever feel stuck on a step, pause for a moment. Look back at the steps you’ve already climbed.
Take a break. Fully enjoy the step you’re on.
I really mean that. You can never go back to this step. Never!
Then, when you’re ready—focus on climbing the next step.
But also, have a final step in mind. Otherwise, you’re just climbing a never-ending staircase.
Learn to enjoy where you are before chasing where you want to be.
This article really resonated with me, especially the idea of the "never-ending staircase." It's so true that as humans, we're wired to keep seeking and striving. The thought of a passive retirement, just "stopping," doesn't appeal to me at all. I think true fulfillment comes from continuous engagement and using your mind, even in retirement, just perhaps in different ways.