If one has taken birth on earth, they would have some wounding. Every single one of us has some wounding. I have come to observe that there are 2 kinds of people in the world.

One kind of people, to distract themselves from the pain of existence, put all their energy into work, or pursuing one thing relentlessly. And they end up being the 'succesful' people in society. The other kind, because of their pain can't focus on one thing, they may get addicted to substances or adventures or drama in relationships. Their growth seems so slow. Taking 3 steps forward and then 2 steps backwards, which seems like they are stuck on a particular level. Their pain of existence wouldn't let them go on a consistent, continuous pace. 

The successful people may seem like they have it all, but they are also in pain. And because they learned to shut down their emotions, they may not be able to relate to others' pain and they may hit a glass ceiling which unless they process their pain can't break. It could even be their downfall from there. 

The other kind; the misfits, the addicts, the lazy, emotional, inconsistent people, their progress being so slow maybe reaching that top by the end of their human life, if at all.

I think the key is not to distract oneself at all. With work, or with other things. It's the middle path. The paradox point. The center of creation. To see both paths, but staying at the centre and ascending up and up on that point. Witnessing it all. Within oneself and others. From there, following joy and passion, and then coming back to that centre. Again and again. And again.