Reclaiming Our Roots, Rebuilding Our Wholeness

At some point, we have to ask: Whose definition of success are we chasing?

Because if it’s one that leaves us burned out, disconnected from our families, out of alignment with our values, and still feeling like we haven’t done enough… maybe it’s the wrong definition. Maybe it's not our definition at all.

Black Americans... and really, across the diaspora—we’re at a unique and urgent crossroads. The world is shifting. Geopolitics, economics, global power structures… all of it is in motion. As a self-proclaimed slow responder I'll be the first to admit the turbulance feels uncertain. But I also recognize it's an opportunity.

An opportunity to pause. To ask bigger questions. To remember who we are—and who we’ve always been.

For generations, both in the U.S. and abroad, we’ve been sold the promise of the American Dream, wrapped tightly in capitalism and the grind. We were told that if we worked hard enough, hustled long enough, and sacrificed everything in pursuit of more… we’d win. We’d make it.

But here’s the truth: that version of success was never truly built for us.And it was never aligned with the richness of our roots.

What’s wild is that science backs this up. Research from Harvard Business Review and other behavioral studies has consistently shown that most people aren’t primarily motivated by money. In fact, a 2019 study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that while higher income can slightly increase life satisfaction, people are far more motivated by intrinsic goals—like purpose, personal growth, autonomy, and relationships—than by extrinsic rewards like wealth or fame.

Yet because we live in a culture where money is positioned as the ultimate measure of worth, we chase it anyway. Not for the money itself, but for what we think it will get us: freedom, status, validation, comfort.

But here’s where the conflict comes in: whether we realize it or not, our behavior is always tied to our internal value system. Even when we haven’t consciously identified those values, they’re still present—quietly shaping our choices and tugging at us when something feels off. So when we’re grinding toward a version of success that’s out of sync with what we truly value? We end up in an endless loop of misalignment.

We look successful on the outside, but feel disconnected inside. We hit milestones, but feel unfulfilled. We earn the money, but still don’t feel secure.

This is why redefining success isn’t just a cute concept—it’s a critical practice if we want to live in integrity with ourselves, our communities, and our legacy.

In the spirit of transparency, I’ll be the first to admit—I’ve subscribed to hustle culture. I’ve promoted it. I’ve lived it. Because I believed in working hard. I still do. I believe in consistency, grit, resilience, and doing what needs to be done.

But here’s what I don’t believe anymore:I don’t believe that my success should come at the cost of my health. I don’t believe that impact should come at the cost of my children’s sense of security or my presence at the dinner table. I don’t believe wealth is worth it if it means I’m too depleted to enjoy it—or too disconnected to share it meaningfully.

The truth is, it takes courage to challenge the norm. To look around at what everyone else is doing and say, “Actually… I want different.”

Different doesn’t mean easy. But it does mean aligned. And alignment is where peace, purpose, and sustainable power actually live.

So let’s start redefining success—not just for ourselves, but for future generations. Because HunTy! We can see how corrupt capitalism and oligarchy is destroying us. We have the power to make a major shift in our welbeing. But only if we stop chasing someone else’s dream and start creating a life that reflects our true values.

Journal Prompts

To help you explore this shift for yourself, here are a few prompts to sit with this week:

1. What definition of success did you grow up believing in? Where did it come from?

2. What sacrifices have you made in pursuit of that version of success? Were they worth it?

3. When do you feel most successful—not by outside standards, but by your own?

4. What do you value most in life? Are your current goals and routines aligned with those values?

5. What would it look like to define success in a way that honors your health, your family, and your legacy?