There is confusion, worry, and despair everywhere we look because of the extremely erratic market dynamics. Every day is difficult and has an impact on many people’s health, leading to a range of mental and physical problems.

Last evening, I found myself sitting quietly with a cup of coffee in hand. Life had felt heavy that day, though I couldn’t exactly pinpoint why. There was no grand failure or crisis, yet an invisible weight hung over me. My mind replayed a familiar loop of self-doubt: “I don’t think I did anything valuable today.”

I then recalled a discussion I had with a man who resembled a monk, but he wasn’t the type who had given up everything. It was a big part of his life. He managed people, operated enterprises, and juggled family obligations while maintaining an almost unachievable level of comfort and composure. He was an expert at living, not running away.

I remember saying to him, “I don’t think I did anything valuable today,” which sounds a lot like how the little turtle in the photo feels.

He didn’t jump to refute me or give me a long, flowery speech. Rather, he merely sipped his tea, grinned, and posed a gentle question:

“But you survived the day, didn’t you?”

I wasn’t sure how to react at first. It seemed too easy. It seemed as though he was ignoring my battle. However, he wasn’t. His remarks took time to sink in.

Sometimes the most valuable thing about a day is not what you accomplished, but rather that you persevered.

So, can Survival be termed as Success ?

Our society is fixated on numbers, including performance, productivity, milestones, and accomplishments. We tell ourselves that the day was a waste if we don’t do anything or cross things off a to-do list. However, my mentor, who resembled a monk, reminded me that not every day is about scaling mountains. On certain days, all you have to do is push yourself up little slopes without passing out.

When I looked back at my conversation with the monk-like man, I realized that my self-criticism was rooted in comparing my “ordinary” days to my “productive” ones. I had measured my worth by output, not by resilience.

But life is not an endless sprint of accomplishments. It is a rhythm—sometimes a surge, sometimes a lull. The lull has value too.

I asked him, almost childishly, “So you mean even if I just get through a day, that’s enough?”

He smiled warmly. “It’s not just enough. It’s essential. Imagine a tree. Do you call it useless on days it doesn’t bear fruit? Of course not. You respect its quiet growth. You honor its survival. You must do the same with yourself.”

That moment stayed with me. Since then, on days when I feel like I haven’t done enough, I try to remember that getting through is not a failure—it’s an act of courage.

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” – Brené Brown

And showing up for life—even when you don’t feel valuable—is the most valuable thing of all.