The growth in popularity of social media has paved the way for many more jobs that did not exist way back when. The likes of vloggers, content creators, influencers, the list goes on – have the internet, social media in particular, to thank for their lucrative careers. The landscape of entertainment and television has changed as well. For one, we can now stream shows, and watch live on our mobile devices. We can keep up with the news from anywhere. And thus, similar to celebrities and politicians, social media stars and influencers are public figures who have rose to fame as well.

I very recently spent a morning with a celebrity mother and son who I have known for quite some time, but only got the opportunity to work closer with the past year as they became staunch supporters of the cause I work closest with. While he is undeniably one of the biggest stars in show business today, his humility shines through ever so distinctly. His parents truly raised him well, and is a reminder to me of the importance of using your fame for good; of using one’s celebrity status to give happiness, to inspire others to join the “do-good” movement, and do the same.

This is when my mom’s perennial phrase resounds loudest, “With privileges comes responsibility.” Similarly, with the fame and the status of public figures comes the need to be responsible which can sometimes compromise freedom and privacy, among many others. Responsibility also includes choosing to use one’s influence for the good of others – with intention, meaning, and purpose. In this day and age, and thanks to social media, authenticity is key, and it is much easier to spot the not when people choose to either (even sometimes) overshare, or over curate tidbits of their lives on the internet.

Someone’s status changes and evolves with life. Others see status as a privilege, and this is the kind that one can either be born with, or work hard to attain. In my life thus far, I have encountered many individuals who have been jaded by power and their own status to the point of forgetting it can be transient and temporary, but I have had the honor of meeting more who do not allow their status and stature in life to define them. Rather, they use it to help, to serve, and to be a person for others. Those are the kind of individuals I look up to and admire.

In life, we are taught to work towards attaining success. But success I have come to realize is also very subjective, and individualized. That being said however, there is a universal acceptance for certain individuals who are considered successful.

The kinds who gain popularity because of their hard work, their good hearts, and their great contributions to society. Oftentimes, these brightest shining stars in my books remain the most grounded and humble, and to me, this is a true blue sign of someone with status. The kind of person who may not even know they inspire others, or have some sort of influence on the decisions others make, but who stay true to themselves despite it all. A reminder that humility will always allow us to fly high, and ego will pull us low.

Always remember, there is a great amount of wisdom in humility. We just need to have the heart to search for, and find it.