You have probably experienced moments when, after years of striving to obtain more things, you suddenly ask yourself: “What was all this running for?” Sometimes, at the peak of material success, we feel empty and lost. It seems the more we acquire, the deeper the void within us becomes.

 Redefining Success; Beyond Material Accumulation

In today’s world, success is usually measured by quantitative criteria: income, car model, house size, job position, even the number of social media followers. These criteria are so deeply rooted in our culture that we unconsciously equate “having more” with “being better.” But research shows a different picture: after basic needs are met, increased income has a very minor effect on happiness and life satisfaction [1]. Humans reach a point where “more” no longer means “happier.” This finding calls us to rethink success itself.

In a deeper view, true success is based on qualitative and inner indicators: inner peace, heartfelt contentment, service to others, moral growth, and proximity to truth [6]. This fundamental difference explains why a person may be very materially successful but feel unhappy, or conversely, a person with limited means may have a deeply satisfying life. External indicators only show part of the picture of success, and focusing solely on them prevents us from understanding its full reality.

In this view, true success depends on nearness to truth; not a physical place, but a spiritual and emotional state in which a person manifests higher qualities. They become kind, just, generous [5]. Such a person does not seek success in “having more” but finds it in “being better.” The ultimate goal is “human perfection”; the harmonious growth of all dimensions of existence: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual. Lasting happiness is the result of the balanced growth of all human capacities [6]. Happiness is summarized in five elements: positive emotion, engagement, meaningful relationships, meaning and purpose, and achievement [7]. These elements closely resemble the various dimensions of human perfection.

To redefine success in a meaningful way, we can take practical steps: identifying core values (truthfulness, kindness, justice, learning, service to others), reducing consumerism (limiting impulsive and ostentatious purchases), attending to spiritual growth (study, reflection, worship, and service), and measuring success with qualitative criteria (quality of relationships, level of inner peace, feeling of life satisfaction). True success is not in the accumulation of wealth, but in the holistic growth and transcendence of human existence. The shift from a material to a spiritual view does not mean negating the world, but placing it in its proper place; a tool for transcendence, not the ultimate goal.

 References

[1] Kahneman, Daniel & Deaton, Angus. Income and Happiness. Translated by Mohammadi, R. Tehran: Growth Publications, 2016, p. 45.

[5] Khomeini, Ruhollah. Commentary on Forty Hadiths. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, 1999, p. 234.

[6] Seligman, Martin. Authentic Happiness. Translated by Mohammadi, R. Tehran: Qatreh Publications, 2016, p. 12.

[7] Seligman, Martin. Authentic Happiness. Translated by Mohammadi, R. Tehran: Qatreh Publications, 2016, p. 24.

[8] Motahhari, Morteza. Man and Faith. Tehran: Sadra Publications, 2011, p. 89.