We are used to thinking that success is relative. That is, one person may determine that his or her success is a mansion on the hill, fifty million in the bank, while someone else may deem success as having a great apartment and their ford truck paid for. What's relative about this is that we would all agree with the preposition that financial security - at any level of income and lifestyle - is, in itself, successful.
The problem is that financial success is essentially an intellectual factor and is limited in how much joy and contentment it gives us. If money created happiness, then there would be no depressed, angry or frustrated rich people. Even if the poorest suddenly won the lotto, his or her joy would soon enough be fleeting, as anyone with substantial wealth well knows. I know - because I have seen those who earned a great deal of money, and I can tell you riches do not mend the rags of the soul.
So I define success as succeeding at life, and succeeding at life is obtaining inner peace while maintaining both zest and passion in our daily lives.
"If it cost you your inner peace, it's to expensive."
