What Is Success?

What is success?

Many equate success with money, fame, status and material items.  But success is not something that comes with a one-size-fits-all label. Each of us needs to define success by our own labels.

Though different dictionaries may agree on a general definition of success, it’s a subjective concept. It’s up to an individual to determine what success is and strive to attain that definition of success.

Successful people are those who have achieved their greatest desires in their life journey. And throughout your life, your definition of success is likely to change. So success is like a lifelong journey.

Many people who chase career titles, money, social status and material goals, find that  they are not living the fulfilling life they have dreamed about though they have achieved their goals. They feel an emptiness that gnaws at their happiness.

I happened to meet a secondary school classmate last week at a restaurant in Miri. I have not seen him for about 6 years as he is based in Kuching. I know he is a very successful businessman with a net worth of a few hundred millions. I commended him on his success as he has overcome abject poverty of his childhood days to become such a wealthy man but he asked me what success is.  He said in his opinion, the main gauge of success is how happy you are. Material things are secondary.   

It’s true. The majority of people gauge success in terms of material possessions like big houses, expensive cars, expensive gadgets, big bank account balances and the like. But like what my friend said, if you possess all these material things but live a very unhappy life,  you are not successful at all.

A very important part of being happy is to achieve a work-life balance. Don’t be a slave to your work or business. Allocate time for your hobbies and interests outside of work. This goes a long way to help you feel recharged.

We often judge people by their material possessions . We think we are seeing someone who seems to have it all but we don’t see the full picture. People love to show off  their best achievements but rarely expose their failures. These people may be living a very unhappy life despite their outward appearance of success. You can’t see their real lives behind the scenes.

Never try to compare yourself to others as this just sets you up for failure from the start, trapping you in an ongoing cycle of insecurity in which you’ll never quite measure up. You lose sight of your values and end up chasing someone else’s dreams rather than pursuing your version of success.

Reflect on your values in life. When you act based on your values, you tend to feel better about your actions and more confident in your decisions. You can only measure success in your life when you define what drives your happiness and helps you find purpose. 

It has been said that true success in life cannot be measured with material factors, but instead with the amount of people that are able to live a better life because of you. You can make a difference in this world.The meaning of success is to live a happy life and to make this world a better place for everyone. But never do charity just to gain publicity. Little acts of kindness towards others do a lot to elevate your happiness. Live a life free from any guilty conscience.

If you are experiencing happiness in your life, you’ve already found success. Keep it up!