Efforts unseen are one that matters most

Borneo Post

2 days ago

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Threads
WhatsApp
Telegram
WITH the rock band 'My Chemical Romance' finally returning to Malaysia next year, I have been deep in their live performances online.
As a long-time fan, I don't scroll past – I watch everything.
And out of all the songs that I have locked since I was a teen, the recent performances of 'Famous Last Words' really stuck with me.
Hearing thousands of people scream: 'I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone', gave me chills.
That line meant something to me back then, but now, as an adult who knows what it's like to keep going even when it's hard, it hits deeper.
It reminds me that life doesn't always give you what you want, even when you try your best.
We grow up thinking that we will get everything if we work hard enough, but sometimes, things just don't go that way.
Yet, we keep going. We show up. We survive. And honestly, that's powerful.
Ever wonder why some people seem to get everything they want?
Here is the honest truth: it's not magic, and it's definitely not luck – it's effort.
The good stuff in life, the things that really matter, usually take time, patience, and a whole lot of showing up when you would rather not.
It is not always easy, but it's possible, and most definitely worth it.
Ever catch yourself wishing things were just easy, without all the hard work and struggle?
A lot of people feel that way, and usually there's a reason behind it.
Sometimes, it's because they have tried putting in effort before but it didn't see any payoff – so why bother trying again?
For example, if you spend all week working late to get a project just right, but your boss only points out the little things that you missed instead of saying thanks – you're probably not going to go that extra mile again, because it starts to feel like no one really sees all the efforts that you put in.
People want to put in the work when they believe it's actually going to pay off.
If not, they learn the hard way that going that extra mile just feels like wasted time, so they start doing the bare minimum instead.
For me, the reason I often stick to the easy, familiar path without even trying something new is fear.
Fear that taking a risk might backfire and leave me worse off.
Working hard isn't just about effort – it's a whole process.
It takes dedication, perseverance, and genuine interest.
It's something you want to put your full energy into because it matters to you.
But sometimes, choosing the easy way feels like the only option, especially when opportunities are scarce and there's no real support for the ideas that I care about.
I often find myself stuck between doing what's 'right' and what's easy.
And honestly? What I get with little effort often feels good enough.
Still, I wonder – am I okay with spending years doing the same thing, or do I want to risk that comfort and stability to chase something bigger?
Something that might bring more satisfaction, but with no guarantee.
I hope those who aim for greatness find it.
But at times I ask myself, am I one of them? Is settling for less really such a bad thing?
When people say 'never settle for less', I don't think they mean that you have to be satisfied with whatever life throws at you.
I believe it means honouring yourself by making choices that truly reflect what you want – choices that don't make you feel small or ashamed.
Because, at the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with the decisions that you make.
The truth is, you can get what you want in life, but the real challenge is doing it without dimming your light or forgetting who you are.
It starts with being honest about what you actually want, not what looks impressive, and not what other people expect.
What you genuinely want deep down. That's your direction.
Then comes the harder part – staying true to yourself on the way there.
You will be tempted to say yes when you mean no, or shrink to fit in.
If you want to get anything in life without losing yourself, here's what I like to tell myself:
Stick to your values. If you have to betray your peace and dignity to win, it's not really a win.
Keep your integrity. Do things in a way that you will be proud of later.
Put in the work. Wanting is easy, but doing the daily, often boring stuff, with heart, that's where the magic happens.
You don't have to lose yourself to get what you want. When you stay true to who you are, the right things start to find their way in.
Possibility shows up – not all at once, but quietly, step by step.
Just as My Chemical Romance says: 'We'll carry on, we'll carry on' – just keep showing up as you.
* The writer is a psychology graduate who enjoys sharing about how the human mind views the world. For feedback, email to [email protected].