In a World of Appearances, Choose the Essential

In a World of Appearances, Choose the Essential

​The world always presents us with two paths. One is safe and predictable, and the other is uncertain but exciting. Many people, especially successful people, always say, “You should do what you love.” Sometimes, that sounds like a childish dream. Life is more realistic than you think, and we live with fixed expenses, responsibilities, and social standards every month. In such a reality, the words “follow your dreams” can sound endlessly romantic. I, too, am careful whenever I talk to people around me about my life as an artist. I know that drawing, doing art, may seem beautiful and free, but it is also a lonely and endless journey. That is why I dare not strongly tell someone to “do art” when they are looking for a realistic job. Because it is their life, their choice, and their responsibility. However, from my experience, there is only one thing I can say. You should do what you love, that is the right path. And the sooner you make that choice, the better. People who set their own path and walk it from the beginning become stronger. No matter how hard it is, no matter how difficult it is, no matter how financially stressful it is, if you have to go that way, it is right to start before it is too late.

Last year, while doing an outdoor art show, I met a variety of people. From ordinary office workers to former designers and retired teachers, they all said the same thing. “I really liked drawing when I was young.” “I originally wanted to go to art school.” “I still have my heart set on art.” Their eyes were clear, and their speech was full of regret. They were all people who had put off the path of art because they had hit the wall of reality. Listening to their stories, I felt deep empathy. That is because I, too, took a detour and came back. A dream that has been lost once does not come back easily. Starting again requires courage, time, and the patience to push through countless weeds. I am still creating my own path by cutting down those weeds one by one.

If you ask me why I am taking such a difficult and rugged path, I can only give one answer. Because I like it. Even if no one recognizes it, even if it doesn’t sell, the moment I draw it makes me the most myself. People who do what they love don’t get tired easily. The inner fulfillment they get from doing it lasts much longer than the realistic rewards. Of course, what they love may not immediately become their job. However, if they do what they love for a long time, that path will eventually become their path. And there is freedom and deep satisfaction that only those who walk that path can enjoy. That’s why I want to say. Doing what you love is not a waste. Rather, it is the most honest choice for yourself. Even if you sometimes go back, break down, and feel lonely, that path will ultimately make you the deepest and strongest. We all have to ask ourselves at some point. “Have I really done what I wanted to do in my life?” I want to live in this moment so that I can confidently say “yes” at that time.

​We often say, “Don’t worry about what others think, and just go your own way.” Especially, those who have already succeeded consistently advise this. “I got here because I didn’t care about what others thought.” This saying sounds simple and cool, but it’s not easy to actually put it into practice in life. Rather, living without being swayed by the eyes of others, society’s standards, or someone else’s evaluation may be one of the most difficult things to do. So today, I’m going to think about what exactly “not being conscious of others” means.

Not being conscious of others doesn’t simply mean ignoring the existence of others. It means not being swayed by the standards set by others. The world creates countless standards. Faster, bigger, and more expensive. More specs, flashier titles, and higher positions. We evaluate ourselves by following these standards without knowing it. And before we know it, we find ourselves trapped within the standards of others, not the eyes of others.

I often meet people around me who consider only the “top” in a certain field as successful, and say that all other paths are “losers.” Whenever I hear such words, I am outwardly silent, but inwardly I feel sorry. Their words sound like voices boasting about the world's oldest nuclear power plant, the fastest clock, and the most magnificent church. But they do not ask the important questions. Is that power plant still safe? What kind of time does that clock present to people? Does that church really give peace?

What we often miss is not the 'standard' but the 'essence'.
When we follow the standards set by others, we lose the most important questions.
"Why am I going this way?"
"Does this truly make me happy?"

Those who follow their own path cannot help but be different from others. Sometimes they may seem slow and sometimes clumsy. However, that path contains their own reasons and philosophy. And that is the most powerful energy that sustains life. A life that lives faithfully to one's own questions, not according to others' standards. I believe that is the true meaning of not being conscious of others.

In uncertain times, it's easy to chase appearances and external validation. But true fulfillment comes from pursuing what is essential. Explore how failure, self-questioning, and personal values can lead to a more meaningful life.

But I know this well: people who have never lost something or experienced failure often cannot grasp what truly matters. Without having faced detours or collapse, it’s easy to become fixated on appearances—on surface-level achievements, flashy titles, or socially defined success. It’s not entirely their fault; if you’ve never had something taken from you or never had to question everything you believed in, it’s only natural to rely on what seems tangible. But in time, all the surface fades, and what remains—what truly endures—is essence. And when we begin to pursue that essence with honesty and intention, we discover a kind of joy that is both quiet and deeply meaningful.
In times like these, where uncertainty defines our world, that pursuit becomes even more vital. The economy is unstable, technology is transforming our lives faster than we can comprehend, and the idea of “security” or “normal” has become increasingly fragile. In this kind of world, it’s easy to panic, to chase what others seem to have, or to fall into the trap of comparison. But I believe this is exactly when we must pause and begin asking ourselves the hard questions:
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“Why am I doing what I’m doing?”
“Does this choice bring meaning to my life?”
“Am I truly living my own life—or just copying someone else’s version of success?”
These questions are not easy. Often, they are uncomfortable. They may not bring answers right away. But by asking them—genuinely and repeatedly—we begin to uncover something precious: our own values, our own direction, our own truth. And when that inner compass begins to form, life becomes steadier. We may still tremble at times, but we no longer collapse at every shake. There’s a root growing, quietly but surely, beneath us.
That’s why I believe pursuing what is essential—not just what is visible—is what leads to lasting fulfillment. Compliments fade, numbers lose meaning, applause stops. But knowing why we created something, what we loved, and how we chose to live—those stay. And from them comes a small, steady, and powerful joy, the kind that doesn’t rely on the outside world to feel real.