The Meaning of Success

Prayer for the Day presented by Steve Taylor.

Good morning.

What does it mean to be successful? The normal definition of success is achievement – getting more qualifications, rising high in your profession, receiving accolades and awards. Or we think in terms of material success – earning a lot of money, buying goods - a big house, a fast car and other glittering possessions.

However, research in psychology has shown that material success doesn’t have much effect on well-being. It works up to a certain point, but beyond that, once you’re freed from financial pressures, it doesn’t make much difference. Beyond that threshold, no matter how much money people earn, they don’t gain anymore well-being, even if they become billionaires.

So if the conventional idea of success is false, what does success really mean?

Success means giving to others. A successful life means a life of caring, support and service. It means supporting your family, neighbours and community. It means helping strangers, alleviating other people’s suffering, encouraging their development. In these terms, a life of failure is a life of selfishness, of trying to satisfy your own desires while disregarding other people’s well-being.

Significantly, research shows that acts of kindness do increase our well-being. Sometimes this is referred to as the ‘helper’s high.’ We feel more connected to others and our lives have more meaning and purpose. As I have expressed it poetically:

If you want to make a mark on the world
live quietly and simply.
Be attentive to the needs of others
sensitive to their suffering
giving as much of yourself as you can.

The achievements of the ego pass away
like monuments that tourists gaze at admiringly
then forget once out of sight.

But acts of kindness never fade.
Our souls absorb them, and carry them forever
as marks of trust and love.

Blessings.