What people need to be successful is the most critical question human beings ask themselves throughout their existence. One of the simple answers is money, however, no one can say the exact amount of money they need to live a happy life. Indeed, an answer to this question will be different based on the context. An individual living in a big city and making money with six figures obviously will ask for more material capital compared to a farmer living in a village. This essay agrees with Ann Quindlen’s (2010) main idea that there is a middle ground of success and claims that success goes beyond materialism.
The concept of success does not only relate to material wealth. Success also means a feeling of self-worth, fulfillment of goals, and meeting expectations of oneself. A person may consider themselves successful if they accomplish personal or career goals. It is critical for human beings to feel their worth and understand the value of their actions. For example, an individual who is passionate about playing the piano may find success in performing a solo concert or enrolling in a prestigious orchestra. They may not earn much money, but still, they may feel happy due to their achievements. Passion drives people to live and strive for results.
Nevertheless, a person should not blindly follow their passion, forgetting about the fulfillment of the basic needs that money can provide to them. Following passion does not mean being a poor pianist who works only for music and joy. There is a need for moderation to reach success in what an individual is doing.
Along with self-worth, success is also linked to recognition. If there are no people who will acknowledge the efforts of an individual, there is no point in reaching goals. People are social creatures who want to show themselves and be admired by others.
For instance, a moviemaker cannot feel successful if no one watches their film. Feeling admired and recognized is crucial to keep doing what a person is passionate about. A similar pattern can be seen during childhood when a child tries to get the attention of his or her parents. Children bring drawings, sing songs, and perform dramas they learn at school to impress their parents and feel validated. Growing up people require not only validation from parents but also of their friends, professors, colleagues, spouses, and others. As such, having a great amount of money without feeling self-worth and without feeling the recognition of others does not provide a happy life.
However, it is not that people should not desire material capital, but they should understand that success will not come with a six-figure or more in a bank account. Success is feeling comfortable with what an individual does and what they have at the moment. Life is a journey full of joy as well as failures, therefore, people should not only focus on how to achieve success. They should focus on things that are important in their lives at the present moment to reach a state of success. It may be children, a career, or even a hobby that make an individual feel happy and fulfilled.
Another aspect of success that goes beyond material capital is healthy social relationships. Being lonely increases the stress level of people as they do not express their feelings and share their worries. It also relates to recognition, as feeling recognized by one’s close ones is more valuable than having applause from strangers. Having a good relationship with family is a crucial aspect of a happy life. Resentments from parents, conflictual environment in the family, and hurtful episodes prevent an individual from feeling happy. Family issues may cause psychological problems, such as depression and behavioral disorders that require systematic treatment.
Moreover, if a person does not get along with friends or cannot find a love partner, they may feel lonely and abandoned. This can further contribute to the mental health issues of an individual. Therefore, in comparison with a high salary, establishing stable relationships with family, friends, and a partner is extremely significant to be happy.
Speaking about health, it is vital to have good health to reach success. Patients with severe health conditions dream about getting back to their normal life. Providing an example of the current pandemic, people using mechanical ventilation, now strive to breathe by their own lungs. They do not need anything but an ability to breathe and sustain themselves. Health is often taken for granted, and, in most cases, people start to appreciate physical or mental health when having problems with it. Money cannot buy health, and it is pointless to be rich if a person feels constant pain and does not enjoy the life of a wealthy individual.
Overall, material wealth will not make a person feel successful or happy. The lack of capital also does not provide long-lasting happiness. The key to success is determined by various aspects of a life of an individual. Self-worth, achievements, recognition by others, and health are the primary aspects influencing happiness. These aspects cannot be replaced by wealth or material well-being.
Work Cited
Quindlen, Anna. “Anna Quindlen: Why Stuff Is Not Salvation.” Newsweek. 2010. Web.