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What’s success? And what is it that gives meaning to our lives?

Chasing material indicators of success can stop us from flourishing in the truest sense of the word.

A reset is necessary when we have moved past the inflexion point in our society where we are content with materialistically chasing the 5Cs, says the writer.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Tan Seow Hon

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At a recent forum at the Singapore Management University, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong urged youth in Singapore to find meaning and purpose in what they do, and thrive and flourish in their own ways.

Before this, in the

Motion on Advancing Mental Health in Parliament in February,

the mental wellness of youth came under the spotlight. The Government recognised the need to change the narrow mindset of success. While hard work and excellence are good, Singaporeans “should not be unwittingly drawn into a rat race of hyper-competition and endless comparisons with one another, just to get ahead of others”, said Mr Wong, who was then Deputy Prime Minister.

What’s success? And what is it that gives meaning to our lives?

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