Revealing the hidden truth of success: beyond wealth and fame
Yesterday, I tuned in to a podcast where the host and guest were accomplished young people. They seemed to have everything one could want: mingling with influential people, enjoying their shopping, and traveling to various places. It made me wonder if their lives could become more ideal.
However, during the podcast, one of the guests opened up about his personal challenges. Despite achieving great success, he felt a deep sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction within himself. He underwent several months of therapy to alleviate these feelings. While his outer life seemed glamorous with wealth, fame, and a hit podcast, he still struggled on the inside.
Redefining success: beyond material wealth and external recognition
This may seem unusual, but when you listen to people who are considered “successful,” you find that they face similar challenges to others. This raises the question: what really defines success and how do we measure it?
Most of what we do is to obtain happiness. But no human being has perpetual happiness and that is by design. We can have some good days and then some bad days and the cycle continues.
Warren Buffett said that he measures success by the number of people who love him. This would be difficult to measure since it is difficult, if not impossible, to know if people praise the person for genuine love or for what he possesses.
The true meaning of success
In today’s society, we often associate success with prosperity and financial power. If you were to take a poll on the street and ask what constitutes a successful person, most of the answers would probably involve wealth or financial status. Another common marker of success is the number of followers on social media, which ultimately still relates to the influence and monetary gain associated with a large number of followers.
But what if the assets acquired are through unethical or downright criminal means? Some might still consider that person to be successful because he has achieved wealth and power.
Listening to some of the rich and famous people will make you realize that deep down, some of them don’t enjoy things that ordinary people would do anything for. A very famous personality, when asked if she is happy, struggled to answer the question before finally saying that she is generally miserable.
The question remains unanswered: What exactly is success and how can it be achieved?
The afterlife: a mysterious but rewarding place
Islam clearly defines what success is and divides life into two parts. The first part is life on earth and the second part is what is called the hereafter. The ultimate success is the success of the afterlife.
If you were to stay at a resort for two days and then travel to a new place where you plan to spend the rest of your life, which would be more valuable? Would you put your effort into preparing for the two days as you would for the final destination in the same way? A person with foresight would definitely use their time and resources to plan where they would spend the most time.
The hereafter is eternal and life here in this world is only temporary. No matter how long one lives, eventually one has to transition to the final place, a place that is mysterious and hidden but explained in great detail.
The Ultimate Hit: Paradise
Success in this life does not necessarily translate to success in the hereafter, as the concept of success is subjective and varies greatly between individuals. There is no one-size-fits-all definition of success, as it can encompass very different things for different people. For some, success may be finding happiness, while for others, it may be achieving financial prosperity.
Compare this to the afterlife, where success is clear. A person who reaches eternal paradise has certainly made it. There will be no more trials or death. This is the ultimate freedom and the greatest achievement. The things we long for in this world like peace, wish fulfillment, happiness, etc., will all be there in paradise without any of the elements we hate like sadness and pain. Unlike the world where even prosperity breeds boredom, paradise will be very satisfying and the inhabitants will never get bored.
Islam: the path to ultimate success
Islam predicts what will happen when humans die and then describes in great detail the path that will lead a person to ultimate success. The focus is on action and those actions will determine the outcome. Whatever action is taken will affect the afterlife. This is the default that everything affects everything else. is where Freedom of Choice comes in.
Discipline, hard work, and dedication when combined with spiritual growth can produce massive results. This creates a balanced and fulfilling life. She was listening to a billionaire who trains big names and said that of all the super-rich and famous people he asked if they felt fulfilled, only five responded in the affirmative. If the purpose of life is not clear and the intention is only for this world, then this would be considered superficial and will not lead to a meaningful life.
The key to ultimate success: a spiritual connection to the Creator
In order to live a fulfilling life, the spiritual connection with the Creator is a prerequisite. It is important to work for both this world and the next. Success in this life and failure in the next is not success at all. The ultimate success is the life that is eternal where one can reach paradise and truly live the life of immense pleasure.
You have more questions? Call 877-WhyIslam or visit milligorusportal.com. You deserve to know!
