What do people mean when they say someone is successful? Do they mean that the person they call "Successful" has reached a certain threshold that they aspire to reach themselves? Or there is an absolute minimum to be reached? Is there a threshold of achivement beyond which one could be called 'Successful'? Who decides that threshold? Why can't I call myself successful?
Let's take an example. Is a man who is just declared "Successful" by newspaper headlines today not one yesterday? Why not? What did he to today to become sucessful? Assuming that he is capabable of achieving more and there are already people who have achieved much more than him, why are we calling him successful today? Would a film star be called successful if he gives just one hit? If not then how many hits? If yes, then why? He could give five flops tomorrow and his career might be finished. Are we being premature?
A young man, who leaves his village for a decent paying job in a city like Mumbai might be called successful back home. His folks back in his village might look at the way he dresses, the way he talks and the way he spends money, and marvel at it. "Look at him", they might say, "he has become a big man". But this guy would be a nobody in Mumbai. A nondescript face in a vast sea of humanity.
The example above probably was an extreme case, but the point is if success is so relative, how can I find my place in the hierarchy of life's achievements? Is it a constant attempt to define and redefine yourself? Your priorities, your happiness, your contentment? If I am happy with myself, am I successful? Or, let's say if I think I am successful, but I am not happy at all, am I really "Successful"?
When I think I could one day lead a happy life doing what I love to do, I am always assaulted by the fact that I can meet someone one day who would tell me that I am happy with myself because I have stopped trying to reach greater heights. He would say people who want to reach heights of success are in a perpetual state of unhappiness. And this unhappiness drives them further.
But this confuses me further.
Given that each of us lives a different life under different circumstances and contributes differently to the society we live in, is it possible that we have as many definitions of success (if not more) as there are people?
When I look at myself and try to find my own definition of success, I am assaulted by conflicting theories that I myself put forward and many cases people around me throw at me.
Am I successful? Am I not? Do I want to become one? Do I not?
What?
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2 comments:
Hey.... quite in line with my thinking.... When should I call myself SUCCESSFULL! Really tricky question. Should I link it with happiness, should I link it with contentment... Should I link it with an extraordinary exploration of my abilities.... what is about.... I guess its a comlex equation made up of priorities, preferences, capabilities and outlook.... Its like a man there may be a man who is more happy giving time to family and exploring a considerable amount of his capabilities at work who thinks he is successful. On the other hand there may be a man who derives more happiness in ascending the career ladder and 'family time' might not be a priority..... Also teh definition of success changes with time, age and people....
Dear Dhiraj,
Thanks for your comments. You are right. I think many people have a very narrow definition of success...they would call you successful only when you have money, fame and power. But that need not always be the case. Gandhiji didn't have money. Mother Teresa didn't have money or Power (in the usual sense). They were extraordinarily successful human beings.
I think to put it quite simply, if you have lived a life that is greater than just yours and you have made a positive impact to the society around you and you have an inner contentment in what you have done, you can reasonbly call yourself successful.
What do you think?
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