What Does Success Really Mean?
The other day, I was at a meeting where someone started talking about success. You know the conversation—the kind where success gets boiled down to the car you drive, the size of your house, and the brand of watch on your wrist. (Side note: do people actually still wear watches? LOL.)
And while I smiled and nodded along, something heavy stirred in my chest. I felt sadness—a deep, soul-level sadness. Not just for the person speaking, but for all of us who’ve been conditioned to believe that success is something we can only find outside of ourselves.
When I got home, I looked up the definition of success. Merriam-Webster defines it as "the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence." No wonder we’re all so off track.
Society and the media have spent decades programming us to believe that success is synonymous with material accumulation. More is better. Bigger is better. Flashier is better. And we’ve swallowed it whole, often without questioning whether that version of success actually aligns with our truth.
But let me ask you this: What happens when you’ve checked off all the boxes, and you still feel empty?
I once had a billionaire tell me he had never experienced happiness in his life. Think about that. A billionaire. He had the money, the power, the access, the status—but not the joy. Not the peace. Not the deep fulfillment that makes life worth living.
And this isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a planetary one. The obsession with "more" has led us to exploit our natural resources, pollute our oceans and skies, and disconnect from the very Earth that gives us life. When our worth is measured in dollars, we start treating everything—even the planet—as disposable.
Measuring success purely by financial or material standards creates a scarcity mindset. It keeps us in fear. Fear that we’re not enough. Fear that we won’t be okay unless we hustle harder, earn more, and keep up with the Joneses. This fear-based programming disconnects us from our hearts, our communities, and our true purpose.
So how do I define success?
Success, to me, is how much joy and happiness you experience in your daily life. It’s how much love you allow yourself to feel, and how much you radiate that love to others. It’s how kindly you treat yourself, how gently you speak to your own soul. It’s how you show up for the people in your life, and how present you are when they need you. It’s about being of service—to your community, to the planet, to the greater good. It’s about whether or not you feel aligned with your purpose. It’s how you grow—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—and how willing you are to keep evolving.
Let me give you some examples.
The person who chooses to start each day with gratitude and ends it with a heart full of intention, even when life feels chaotic? That’s success.
A man who walked away from a high-paying job that drained his soul and started a nonprofit that feeds the homeless? That’s success.
The woman who finally left a toxic relationship, went to therapy, and started loving herself for the first time in years? That’s success.
Success is the teacher who creates a safe, inspiring space for her students every day, reminding them of their worth and potential, even when the system doesn't make it easy. It’s the artist who creates because her soul won’t let her stop. It’s the elder who shares wisdom by simply being the calm in the room.
These are the stories we need to lift up. These are the kinds of successes that actually matter.
Now, I’m not saying that money and material comfort are wrong. Of course, it's okay to want financial stability, a beautiful home, or even a luxury item now and then. But the key is this: they should be a byproduct of your alignment, not the measure of your worth.
So I invite you to pause and ask yourself: What does success mean to me? What am I chasing, and is it really what I want? Am I living by someone else's definition of success, or my own?
And if you're not sure of the answers, that’s okay. This is the kind of inquiry we dive into during our events at Body & Soul Ministries. Whether it’s through a group workshop, a healing circle, or a private session, we help you strip away the programming and reconnect with your authentic self—so you can define success on your terms.
Because true success isn’t about the car in your driveway. It’s about the peace in your heart.
Ready to redefine what success means to you? Join us at an upcoming event or book a private session today. Your soul is ready. Are you?
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