Lately, I’ve been noticing distinct patterns in how people navigate their lives, especially when it comes to purpose and fulfilment.

People tend to fall into three broad categories: some move with purpose, some chase illusions, and some are simply running away. These groups can be defined as:

North Star Navigators: Those who follow their true calling.
Tail Chasers: Those fixated on external success.
Escapists: Those avoiding reality altogether.

This is a work in progress, just a first attempt at categorising these patterns. No doubt, there are nuances and subcategories I might explore in the future.

I also welcome feedback and even disagreement, because I believe seeing things from different angles helps us all grow.

Before I go further, I should say: I know these paths well because I’ve walked each one myself. I’ve been an Escapist, running from my own reality. I’ve been a Tail Chaser, chasing success and validation. 

Experiencing both paths kept me busy, but neither brought true fulfilment until I stumbled across a book called Mastery by Robert Greene. It made me realise what I’d truly been craving all along: not endless hustle or shallow thrills, but a life of purposeful growth. That was my turning point towards living as a North Star Navigator.

1. The North Star Navigators

These individuals are guided by what I call their spiritual signature: an intrinsic sense of purpose that shapes their actions. They don’t just exist; they align their entire lives with what truly resonates with their soul.

They also understand a fundamental truth: when you follow your North Star, everything else, what I call the ‘tail’ (money, fame, reputation), naturally follows. But the tail is never the goal; it’s just a byproduct of living in alignment.

Within this category, there are two subtypes:

The Purists: They abandon their tails entirely. Money, fame, and reputation mean nothing to them. Their sole focus is on their journey, indifferent to external validation.

The Embracers: They understand that their North Star naturally attracts success, and they don’t shy away from it. They let the side effects (money, fame, reputation) flow into their lives without guilt, using them as tools rather than distractions.

I count myself among the Embracers now. But it wasn’t always this way. I had to first lose myself in chasing and escaping before I could find what was always inside me.

2. The Tail Chasers

These people are fixated on external success: money, fame, reputation. They see these things as the ultimate prize, so they tirelessly chase them, unaware that they’re actually running in circles.

Even when they hear about the North Star, they dismiss it. They don’t believe that something as intangible as a calling could ever lead to tangible rewards. Ironically, those who chase success directly often find themselves perpetually unsatisfied, as their ‘tail’ is always just out of reach.

I’ve lived this too: the constant striving, the hunger for validation, the idea that once you reach that milestone you’ll finally feel whole. Spoiler: You don’t.

3. The Escapists

These individuals are stuck: whether in dead-end careers, indifferent to personal growth, or unconcerned with progress. But instead of facing their dissatisfaction, they escape through excessive travel, addictions, mindless entertainment. Anything to avoid confronting reality.

This is a tragedy because every time they return from their escape, they hate their lives even more. They don’t seek change, only temporary relief, making them prisoners of their own avoidance.

I’ve taken this path, too: numbing out, hiding from my own potential, convinced it was safer to drift than to decide. It wasn’t.

Which One Are You?

The good news is, these categories aren’t permanent. A Tail Chaser can awaken to their North Star. An Escapist can choose to break free and pursue purpose. I’m living proof of that. But not everyone is meant to evolve in this lifetime. Some may remain in these patterns, serving as reflections of what happens when growth is resisted or when one’s sense of self becomes entirely dependent on external validation. Ultimately, the choice is always personal.

I’d love to know: Do you see yourself in any of these paths? Or maybe, like me, you’ve travelled more than one path. Let’s discuss this in the comments!