The Hierarchy of Success

I was watching a tv program where a young girl was conversing about what success looks like to her. She described things related to having money, and the person she was talking to asked if money equated to success. She said of course. He told her, to him, it looked like a family, friends, and love. Which to some sounds cliché. The background of their conversation was that the man asking was abusive in his last relationship, and the girl was sent home from school because her parents were late on her school fees. I’m always amazed when I see this in movies, and it helps me to value the free public education we have in the states, however subpar at times.

Anyways, so the conversation got me thinking about the definition of success. To the girl, it meant getting an education and not being singled out or embarrassed for lack. But, to the man, it meant having an image of a family he could control. So it’s interesting to see the varying definitions of success based on the need of the individual. What needs do you have? Determine what equates success to you. For one person, success can be the ability to have daily breath breaks and moments to yourself. But, of course, as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states, we all need our basic needs met; once achieved, we have room to breathe.

I’ve started challenging myself to do a self-check now and then. When asked what success is for me, I sit silently and listen for the answer. The point of this practice is to remind me of what drives me. I don’t want it only to mean meeting my basic needs. I realize that some days, that may be the only thing, especially if you are not the only one you take care of; responsibilities are a thing. In an ideal world, my needs would align with success. I need to eat, so I eat well, fueling my body and spirit. So, the goal is alignment, meeting needs, and finding peace, all while finding success. Happy journeying!