To You, What Defines "Success" in Life?

[Rival]

Would one necessarily be unsuccessful if they were physically unhealthy due to issues outside their control, such as accidents or hereditary conditions?

It would be harder for them to achieve success but not impossible. By health I meant good diet, healthy weight, good teeth etc.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Such success would be fleeting.

If I'm understanding correctly, do you believe that some successes, defined by certain subjective goals, are fleeting but that equanimity can be permanent and therefore a permanent or at least longer-lasting success?

How many do you know that actually do? In my experience, people who have wealth don't enjoy wealth because the are too busy either protecting that wealth or seeing more wealth. I have personal experience with this.

I know wealthy people who seem content, but I can never be sure how they're actually feeling because I know that such things sometimes aren't visible to others. I also don't know whether their seeming contentment is derived from their wealth or not.

I have seen people spend beyond their means (even though their means were decent) thinking that spending money would bring them happiness, but it didn't and instead only fostered further superficiality and financial ruin.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If I'm understanding correctly, do you believe that some successes, defined by certain subjective goals, are fleeting but that equanimity can be permanent and therefore a permanent or at least longer-lasting success?

I think that's a fair assessment.

 

[Revoltingest]

Do you think it's possible for someone to be successful with little to no power or influence and just enough money to cover their basic needs?

I never said how much of money, influence, or
power is necessary. Could be little. Could be a lot.
Success lies in how it's used.
Just my opinion.

 

[Banach-Tarski Paradox]

A friend was talking to me about his views on success, and he said that to him, success meant obtaining money, power, and influence. He then asked me how I defined "success," and I said, "I believe each person gets to define what success is based on their goals in life, whether those are based on one's religion, career, relationships, or anything else. For me, success would be contentment and security." (Edit: By "security," I mean mental and emotional security, as I clarified in post #6.)

He countered with the argument that even if I became content and secure, someone with more power and influence could simply harm me or be able to impose on my life, while I wouldn't have enough power or influence of my own to stop it. So he believed my definition was lacking. I said that there would always be a more powerful and influential person or entity out there, though—even if one were a multibillionaire official or celebrity—and that always anticipating someone else to harm us and thinking of the various hypotheticals and scenarios in which that could or could not happen wouldn't be healthy or realistic.

Also, I mentioned my belief that "success" could be compartmentalized based on one's goals: someone could be successful, based on achieving their goals, in their career but not in their social or romantic life, and vice versa.

We didn't end up agreeing, but we both found it a thought-provoking discussion.

What do you personally think defines success in life? Is being wealthy synonymous with being successful in life, in your view? Is having a robust social circle and several or more friends who are willing to go to great lengths for you synonymous with being successful in life, even if you're not wealthy? Why or why not, in either or both cases?

Discuss.

Success is when we listen to the children, and should our children not make it to the mountaintop, we listen to our grandchildren, and should our grandchildren not make it to the mountaintop, we listen to our great-grand children, and our great great grandchildren, so that some day, our descendants’ voices will be listened to, and treated with respect.

That each generation fights, passing the baton from generation to generation, down throughout our future history, fighting for our lives, and then passing the baton when it becomes somebody else’s job.

Until one day, our descendants will make it to the mountaintop, and finally see the Promised Land.

Emma González: "Fight for your lives before it's someone else's job"

 

[JustGeorge]

I don't know if I think in terms of 'success'. There is certainly a life I want, and a life I don't want(not that its polarized), but things are always in motion. Even if I 'get there', I might lose it again.

To me, that a person copes well enough based on what possiblities that person has.

I like this. This seems like success to me.

 

[Watchmen]

I’ll have to find the article summarizing the study, but I read recently that those who strive for satisfaction and contentment have better lives than those who strive for happiness.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

...


I like this. This seems like success to me.

Well, it works for me.

 

[Kathryn]

Success to me is being content with one's life, being truly joyful.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Success to me is being content with one's life, being truly joyful.

I just try to go for content and good enough. But I understand where you are coming from.

 

[MayPeaceBeUpOnYou]

What do you personally think defines success in life? Is being wealthy synonymous with being successful in life, in your view? Is having a robust social circle and several or more friends who are willing to go to great lengths for you synonymous with being successful in life, even if you're not wealthy? Why or why not, in either or both cases?

Islam teaches us that true success is to gain Allah’s pleasure, salvation in the Hereafter, and entry into Paradise. When the pleasure of Allah Almighty is at the heart of our activities, we will attain triumph, acceptance among people and family, and righteous children

Quran.24-52
For whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah and is mindful of Him, then it is they who will ˹truly˺ triumph.

This is the general understanding of succes in Islam.
But concerning our lives here on earth, succes is subjective. And No being wealthy doesn’t give you succes, sure it can be a tool to achieving success but it’s not a guarantee.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Islam teaches us that true success is to gain Allah’s pleasure, salvation in the Hereafter, and entry into Paradise. When the pleasure of Allah Almighty is at the heart of our activities, we will attain triumph, acceptance among people and family, and righteous children

Quran.24-52
For whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah and is mindful of Him, then it is they who will ˹truly˺ triumph.

This is the general understanding of succes in Islam.

Thanks for sharing your views!

I'm aware of the traditional Islamic understanding of success from a theological perspective, yes. I think 6:162 is also relevant to the matter:

6:162
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٦٢

Say, “Surely my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah—Lord of all worlds.

Surah Al-An'am - 1-165 - Quran.com

Read and listen to Surah Al-An'am. The Surah was revealed in Mecca, ordered 6 in the Quran. The Surah title means "The Cattle" in English and consists...

quran.com

 

[Nakosis]

A friend was talking to me about his views on success, and he said that to him, success meant obtaining money, power, and influence. He then asked me how I defined "success," and I said, "I believe each person gets to define what success is based on their goals in life, whether those are based on one's religion, career, relationships, or anything else. For me, success would be contentment and security." (Edit: By "security," I mean mental and emotional security, as I clarified in post #6.)

He countered with the argument that even if I became content and secure, someone with more power and influence could simply harm me or be able to impose on my life, while I wouldn't have enough power or influence of my own to stop it. So he believed my definition was lacking. I said that there would always be a more powerful and influential person or entity out there, though—even if one were a multibillionaire official or celebrity—and that always anticipating someone else to harm us and thinking of the various hypotheticals and scenarios in which that could or could not happen wouldn't be healthy or realistic.

Also, I mentioned my belief that "success" could be compartmentalized based on one's goals: someone could be successful, based on achieving their goals, in their career but not in their social or romantic life, and vice versa.

We didn't end up agreeing, but we both found it a thought-provoking discussion.

What do you personally think defines success in life? Is being wealthy synonymous with being successful in life, in your view? Is having a robust social circle and several or more friends who are willing to go to great lengths for you synonymous with being successful in life, even if you're not wealthy? Why or why not, in either or both cases?

Discuss.

Number 1, survival.
Number 2, happiness.

 

[bobhikes]

A friend was talking to me about his views on success, and he said that to him, success meant obtaining money, power, and influence. He then asked me how I defined " success

Discuss.

For me success is achieving moments of happiness. Wether it comes from my goals or helping others or something spectacular around me. If it brings me happiness then I have succeeded in life in that moment. For me success can only be achieved in moments.

 

[MayPeaceBeUpOnYou]

Thanks for sharing your views!

I'm aware of the traditional Islamic understanding of success from a theological perspective, yes. I think 6:162 is also relevant to the matter:

Surah Al-An'am - 1-165 - Quran.com

Read and listen to Surah Al-An'am. The Surah was revealed in Mecca, ordered 6 in the Quran. The Surah title means "The Cattle" in English and consists...

quran.com

Indeed. And your position of being content and secure is a fine position to take. Be grateful with what you have

 

[Quintessence]

What do you personally think defines success in life?

Not letting others define what that means for you, for starters. The moment when I quit giving two pence about how other humans were wanting to define this for me, is when I found it: contentment. Being comfortable with who you are, and what you are. Trusting yourself to be able to navigate any changes that come and permitting the who and what you are to change over time as needed or desired. Contentment should not be conditional on anything in particular - conditions always change. Count your blessings. And never should your contentment come at the needless expense of others. You are part of a community of countless others, both human and not. Behave yourself. The universe doesn't revolve around you.

Is being wealthy synonymous with being successful in life, in your view?

I think defining success as synonymous with (material) wealth is abjectly disgusting, if not the source of many of the world's problems. I do mean the actual world here not merely humans - avarice is the main driver of the present global ecocide and sixth mass extinction.

Is having a robust social circle and several or more friends who are willing to go to great lengths for you synonymous with being successful in life, even if you're not wealthy?

I mean, if I feel like defining myself and every other introvert as a catastrophic failure, sure? That aside, it strikes me as really weird to define "success" in such a selfish, narcissistic fashion. That the culture I am stuck in tends to do that is... well, it says some things.

 

[Debater Slayer]

What do you personally think defines success in life?

Not letting others define what that means for you, for starters.

Agreed!

The moment when I quit giving two pence about how other humans were wanting to define this for me, is when I found it: contentment. Being comfortable with who you are, and what you are. Trusting yourself to be able to navigate any changes that come and permitting the who and what you are to change over time as needed or desired. Contentment should not be conditional on anything in particular - conditions always change. Count your blessings. And never should your contentment come at the needless expense of others. You are part of a community of countless others, both human and not. Behave yourself. The universe doesn't revolve around you.

In your view, if contentment is not conditional on anything in particular, what reason is there for one to pursue goals or seek to change some aspects of their life? Is discontentment a necessary condition for seeking change?

Is being wealthy synonymous with being successful in life, in your view?

I think defining success as synonymous with (material) wealth is abjectly disgusting, if not the source of many of the world's problems. I do mean the actual world here not merely humans - avarice is the main driver of the present global ecocide and sixth mass extinction.

I agree. I get that some people derive satisfaction from defining their own success via goals that prioritize wealth, but I disagree with treating this as some sort of universal metric for success.

Is having a robust social circle and several or more friends who are willing to go to great lengths for you synonymous with being successful in life, even if you're not wealthy?

I mean, if I feel like defining myself and every other introvert as a catastrophic failure, sure?

What if having a robust social circle is a personal goal that one doesn't see as a universal measure of success either?

I can say that for me, putting time, energy, and emotional investment into forming meaningful long-term bonds with people has added a lot of satisfaction to my life. I don't see this as a universal measure of success that others must live by, however; I don't believe that anyone has to have the same goals as I do, and vice versa. This ties into my next question:

That aside, it strikes me as really weird to define "success" in such a selfish, narcissistic fashion. That the culture I am stuck in tends to do that is... well, it says some things.

Why would it be selfish or narcissistic if 1) the willingness to go far for a friend were mutual, and 2) it were defined as a personal goal or a personal rather than universal measure of success according to that goal?

For example, I treasure how far my closest friends and I would go (and have sometimes gone) for each other, but I wouldn't consider our relationships genuine or healthy friendships in the first place if they were one-sided. I see mutual concern and helpfulness, whether expressed and practiced with one's friends or community, as one possible way to live in a manner that is counter to selfishness or narcissism in various ways.

I'm interested to know where we're looking at this differently, as it seems that we have different takes on this specific question in the OP.

 

[Yerda]

Staying awake after midnight feels like a win these days

 

[Stevicus]

Staying awake after midnight feels like a win these days

It's actually kind of easy if you go to bed at 6p.

 

[PureX]

I think that if I am judging my life or others lives in terms of success and failure, I have already failed.

There is no success or failure in life. It is a gift to be experienced and appreciated.