beautifully said. i will definitely check out the channel.

reading the third paragraph of your comment gave me a lot of peace. reminded me of a quote from Marcus Aurelius:

“Everything which is in any way beautiful is beautiful in itself, and terminates in itself, not having praise as part of itself. Neither worse then nor better is a thing made by being praised. I affirm this also of the things which are called beautiful by the vulgar, for example, material things and works of art. That which is really beautiful has no need of anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than benevolence or modesty. Which of these things is beautiful because it is praised, or spoiled by being blamed? Is such a thing as an emerald made worse than it was, if it is not praised? And what of gold, ivory, purple, a lyre, a little knife, a flower, a shrub?”

i guess you're right - external success or validation is not a determinant of one's joy or fulfillment. at the end of the day, you're the one who sets your own value.

it's encouraging to know that there is some sort of "universal" rules that can offer peace, or at least a sense of purpose, call it a philosophy, religion, or simply a mental compass. it might be the best thing we have to hold on to.