Aspiration vs.Ambition

Not exactly symmetrical cognates, yet one burgeoning from the other; they are misconstrued in having duplicate connotations where, in fact, they are distinct both in nature and degree. Aspiration and ambition are used more concurrently than correctly. It’s as if to say that the pursuit to achievement and the path to there, were same. The meaning has always been patent and its not a part of any such essentialism that needs a different medium to be explained. The acclamation of aspiring often diverts itself and tires down before becoming the ambition sought to be. After all, the dawn of the journey does not define its conclusion.

Every scaffold that we stand on throughout our lives stimulates different interests on the detail that they are to define our place in society someday. Then there are those goals which sprout at the tender age, blossom through the growing years where we are trying to establish our identity and then the drudgery continues to make that goal into actuality. In no attempt to underrate the importance, aspiration is the initial kick that drives one into making it a coming reality, an ambition. Though not always, aspirations may change with time or utility. At a given age, environment, aspirations are suited accordingly and so does ambition. The difference shows only when the thinking transforms into toil.

In a way, yes, we confuse the two terms and interrelate them into the same shell. In a maddening chase after status, authority, and capital, we make such aspirations that will not only satisfy but provide luxuriously for the future. Or we mistake them for being our aspirations.

We want to conquer to the apex of the funnel. Its no more about learning and gaining the experience as it is about triumphing over. And sometimes the grip breaks and we slip down that same funnel because the lack of experience beats our vigor to surmount. When we aspire, we look up and admire. More than brutality, our eyes hold the desire to develop into whatever we want to achieve. We no longer want o hop and bounce over barriers that eventually we learn from. Instead we run after that chair to success that gleams under that while Lucifer.

Experiences, incidents, occurrences do what instant success does not. They mould us into becoming more competent and admirable of our achievement. The knowledge that we collect through the rough roads is what makes our stay permanent. Every scratch and scar reminds us that we deserve to be where we are. Success can be manipulated and snatched. When we climb on every stepping stone to the trail to that success, it confirms our merit. Only from the fundamentals do we derive the conditional to cracking the problem. As soon as the learning is taken for granted, the achieved becomes void.

We develop into the individuals we are through a succession of struggles, contentions, debacles and attainments; all requisites of success. What may merely seem as an iniquitous crusade was in fact a step-by-step ascender, by the end of which we have learned the ways of life as well as explored our aptitude. To be handed over the reign would be acquiring the control, not earning it. We all dream, aspire. Only the few who sweat through the labor make it their ambition.

Though not entirely, ambition has a serious, ruthless association to it whereas aspiration has a more lightweight feel. Ambitions can lead to heinous act, perhaps starting with clean cuts but choosing the wrong paths there onwards. Cheating, theft, deceit driven by selfishness, greed and debauchery become the instants to success. An affinity to unethical and immoral ways look tempting and persuasive, as they take lesser time, and dissipate less energy but mainly because they are easier. Thus the as we get inspired to accomplish our goals we sometimes abandon our sense of morality and reality and u-turn into a direction of fraud. We leave behind some things, but more than that we compromise on a lot others. Regardless of all, the dynamism and the smoldering inclination to surmount all impediments is more than just dreaming. It’s passion that drives an individual to dreaming. Ambition makes that passion, an obsession.

Aspiration is a tender yet firm strength of mind in pursuance of a desire to be fulfilled. Having a less vindictive consciousness, it stresses more on wish than goal. More volatile and ‘young’ , it grows further to become an ambition. While ambition is more career-orientated, aspirations pour into other facets of our lives whether personal, social or relational. They may not be fancy imaginings or scrupulous planning for our careers but nevertheless, they are. What lacks in aspiration is a mechanism that can propel the thoughts into a substantial outcome. When we start to look up to something or someone, and lead a duplicate life, we aspire. More than material steps, they are wind dreams. At least there is no concern of self-destruction in means of principles or devastation of one’s ethical values. A man’s incorruptibility and virtuousness reflect in his aspirations. However erratic they may be, aspirations are favorable, jovial visions.

When we are young, each new day brings new desires for the coming tomorrow. There lags a focused direction. Thus the zest is weak and the control, fickle. It can be tempted with materialism. With age, experience, needs, those aspirations mature to become ambitions with clear and defined aim, targeting however difficult, but achievable goal. To separate a vision into an aspiration and am ambition is half the work done.

Aspiration and ambition are analogous but nevertheless decisively divergent in meaning and product. Synonyms don’t always mean the same thing. They simply imply what is meant in relevance with each other. And here, one is leading to the other. Aspirations are imaginings. They become dreams with ambition. The frame of reference in comparison to the importance may be the same, however when it comes to career, all that matters is the achieved. And that is what ultimately defines us.