What is success?Was ist Erfolg
“The planet does not need more successfull people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds” Dalai Lama.
These beautyful words are true. Why are we so obsessed with being successful? What does ‘being successfull’ mean at all? Individuals will respond with mindful statements, wise words and philosophical approaches... but as we thoroughly look at the general notion among the public and media, we will realise that we are heading towards an collective burn-out and the ultimate isolation of our selves.
Sure, the complexity of all aspects involved cannot be discussed here. Therefore it is to say that all of my statements are mere thougths, which are insipried by experiece, observation and reading. Therefore do not take this too serious nor as a true reflection of reality.
As we grow older we realise the importace of the concept success. We are taught to be successful, sometimes we are forced to be successful and we strive for success, too. But Why? Shifts in concepts (by concepts I mean elusive ideas of socially accepted conventions which are sometime artificially created) such as success, luck, happiness, beauty, etc...redinfe our behaivour. In addition to that, the shifts create new links between individual concepts and narratives. These shifts inevitably lead to adaptaions in our behaviour.
Sadly enough a lot of these shifts are dominated by the notion of money, radicalisation and individualism. I firmly belive that we humans are designed to prosper and flourish in groups, families, clans and tribes. However, the modern world with its unimagible abundance of information and possibilities apparently fulfils any kind of dream if we work hard enough, sacrifice our precious time on earth, cheat on other people, leave the weak behind, abondon our children and parents....fuck that shit!
I know our behavouir is also dictated by insticts and survival, but come on; this cannot be right. We are obsessed by money as money represents success. How is itpossible for a piece of paper to represent an entire social construction. There is something wrong with this equation. We work mostly for other people to make our living and to make them rich. We expect money for our time and labour and as we make more we think we are successful or better than others because we make more, drive a fancy car and have a bigger house. Why do we equate work with money. I have already said it in an other post: we should not work for money. We have to stop thinking that way.
We should not spend our limited time in order to work for money. Of course, money is necessary to sustain our living but it should never be our motivation as it is just a piece of paper with a number on it. We should dedicated most of our time to do good, to pay attention to the little things in life, to help our brothers and sisters, take care of our parents and friends and to cherish what we have.
Love, Compassion and Benevolance.....peace out.
