Nepal, Aug. 12 -- A few weeks ago, while occupied with the ordinary routines of daily life, a random thought came to me: What would my ideal self look like? What would I consider a successful life?

As I genuinely reflected on the question, I noticed a pattern emerging. The first images that came to mind were surprisingly concrete and material: a particular physical appearance, a certain car, a beautiful apartment, financial security, perhaps a lifestyle that would signal that I had 'made it'.

I found myself amused and slightly unsettled by the realisation that the first things I associated with my ideal self were material possessions and outward appearances. It made me wonder: Where did I learn to define success this way? Why do these t...