I'm a big perfectionist! I'm trying to channel super-confident

The words of Ariana Grande — “I’m a big perfectionist! I’m trying to channel super-confident women like Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, because I realized that if you want something, you really have to go for it, just like they do.” — shine with the fire of aspiration and the humility of learning. In them, she confesses her relentless drive toward perfection, while also honoring the lineage of super-confident women who inspired her. She declares that success is not the fruit of chance, but the harvest of courage, discipline, and the unshakable will to pursue one’s dreams.

The meaning of her words lies in the union of discipline and example. By naming Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé, she acknowledges that greatness is not created in a vacuum; it grows by witnessing those who have dared greatly before. Their strength, confidence, and artistry serve as mirrors and as maps, showing that if one wishes to rise, one must go for it with the same ferocity. To be a perfectionist is not merely to seek flawlessness, but to channel the spirit of those who embody resilience and mastery.

History offers us kindred spirits. Consider Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized nursing by refusing to accept mediocrity, laboring tirelessly with the same spirit of perfection. Or think of Joan of Arc, who, though young and untested, drew courage from voices of faith and charged fearlessly into battle. Like Ariana Grande, they too looked to examples of confidence and strength, channeling them until that power became their own. Their victories remind us that to dream is not enough; one must pursue with unwavering determination.

The origin of Ariana’s reflection lies in her own journey as an artist, where self-doubt and external criticism constantly shadow success. To survive and to flourish, she looks outward to the radiant examples of women who faced similar storms and triumphed. In doing so, she embodies an ancient truth: that greatness is not inherited but modeled, not stumbled upon but demanded, claimed, and defended.

Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, take this lesson: if you wish to achieve, do not wait for fate to place the crown upon your head. Look to those who walk with confidence, learn from their fire, and then kindle it within yourself. As Ariana Grande teaches, if you want something, you really have to go for it — for the world yields only to those who refuse to surrender, who pursue their vision with both humility to learn and the courage to act.