Why Your “Dream Life” Feels Empty
If you want to see what “hollow success” looks like, you don’t have to look much further than the Gold Coast. It’s the influencer capital of Australia. Burleigh is packed with the most attractive, fittest, and seeminlgy most ambitious people in the country.
On the surface, it’s motivating. But if you aren’t careful, it will absolutely warp your version of reality.
The Perfectionist Mask
When you walk down the street in Burleigh, you’d think everyone has it figured out. You see the designer sunnies, the $10 coffees, and people going for walks in the middle of the day while everyone else is at work. It makes you wonder: “What are they doing that I’m not?”
I call this the Perfectionist Mask. It’s the face we put on to tell the world we’re fit, wealthy, and free. But reality is a different story. These metrics of success: looking impeccable, unlimited money, no responsibilities are what society tells us we should want.
The issue? Most people don’t actually value those things. When you peel back the mask and look at your real values, you likely want something completely different for yourself and your family. But when all you see is “perfect” influencers, it’s nearly impossible to focus on what actually matters to you. That’s how you end up in the “Success Trap.”
The “Dream Job” Emptiness
Think about how many high school kids say they want to be lawyers because it’s “high paying.” But every adult knows a lawyer who hates their job. It’s high-stress, high-expectation, and the money doesn’t actually compensate for the lack of soul.
Achieving the “dream life” often makes the internal emptiness louder. Why? Because you realise that the house, the car, and the location didn’t solve any of the actual problems that were keeping you stuck.
There’s a reason why some people with nothing are the most grateful and happy, while people with everything are miserable and lonely. The people with less worked out early on what they needed to be fulfilled. The people chasing the “Gold Coast Lifestyle Myth” are just hoping that more will eventually fix the void.
Environment vs. Ownership
I grew up in Melbourne and moved away when I was 25. I needed to be dependent on myself. And look, the environment matters, waking up to warm weather makes me want to be outside more. But moving away from your hometown and your triggers only gets you halfway there.
You will find “good” and “bad” no matter where you live. The environment doesn’t matter if you don’t take ownership of your actions and choices.
I had to stop blaming Melbourne, my influences, or my past. I had to say: “Where I am today is because of me, and where I go tomorrow is on me.” There is massive power in that realisation. Until you redefine what success looks like for you, you’ll just be wearing a mask in a different city.
If you’re ready to stop chasing society’s version of success and start finding your own, it’s time to get Success Unlocked.
