The meaning of Success is a question that transcends generations. Is it about wealth, legacy, or the battles we fight along the way? This timeless conversation explores what it truly means to succeed.
Those who have followed the journey of Selene, the inquisitive economics undergraduate, and his father, the erudite professor of psychology, will fondly recall their enlightening walk through the pine forest. Likewise, they may remember their sailing and fishing on the tranquil waters of Mystic Lake. Moreover, their spring afternoon explorations in the garden and their reflective visit to Boston University’s Art Galleries added depth to their intellectual exchanges. Furthermore, their spirited debates while watching Champions fights in their cozy sitting room and moonlit strolls along Cape Cod’s shores allowed them to unearth the profound insights hidden within the Constellations of Character.
Tonight, however, the scene has shifted. As a result, Selene and his father find themselves in the professor’s childhood home, an old yet dignified house near Cambridge, where the scent of old books lingers in the air and the echoes of the past whisper through the wooden floors. Meanwhile, the study, lined with leather-bound tomes and memories long sealed within its walls, holds the weight of time itself. In the soft glow of a flickering candle, elongated shadows stretch across a portrait of the professor’s father—a man whose definition of success remains both a presence and a mystery.
A clock on the mantle ticks with quiet insistence, marking time’s passage as though reminding them both—the meaning of success, if it exists, belongs neither to the past nor the future but to the fleeting moment we call the present.
Selene traced his fingers along the edge of the desk, its surface softened by years of elbows resting in thought. Outside, the winter rain tapped against the window as if seeking entry into the conversation that was about to unfold.
His father sat across from him, turning over a pocket watch in his hands. It had belonged to Selene’s grandfather—a man whose understanding of success was shaped in a time before the world had learned to measure it in accolades and bank accounts.
“I remember watching him wind this every night,” the professor murmured. “He used to say time was a wild horse. Let it run too fast, and you’ll miss the beauty of the journey. Hold it too tight, and it will break free from your grip.”
Selene leaned forward, intrigued. “And what did the meaning of success mean to him?”
A small smile ghosted across the professor’s lips. “Hard to say. He never chased wealth, never sought fame. To him, the meaning of success was about legacy, about leaving something behind that mattered—even if no one remembered his name.” He set the watch down between them. “But does that mean he was successful? Or just content?”
Selene furrowed his brow. “But isn’t success something… more? More than just feeling good about what you leave behind?”
The professor leaned back, steepling his fingers. “That depends, doesn’t it—on who you ask? The world defines success in many ways—achievement, status, mastery. But then, there’s another kind.”
Selene arched an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“Success is struggle. The true meaning of success isn’t just in reaching the top but in the resilience of standing back up after every fall.” The professor gestured toward an old black-and-white photograph on the bookshelf—his grandfather as a young man, lean and wiry, standing outside a boxing ring.
“Wait—was Grandpa a fighter?” Selene asked, surprised.
“In a way. Not professionally. But he believed in struggle. A man is not measured by how easily he wins but by how many times he stands back up.”
Selene studied the picture. The contrast was stark—a man who saw success as legacy, and another who saw success as endurance. “So, which one was right?” he asked.
The professor chuckled. “That’s the wrong question.”
Selene frowned. “Then what’s the right one?”
His father met his gaze. “Why must the meaning of success be one thing?”
The rain outside grew heavier as if punctuating the thought.
Selene let the words sink in. Could success be both? A legacy left behind and a battle fought?
“But what about now?” Selene interjected, shifting in his chair. “We live in a world that glorifies hustle. We branded workaholism as ambition, but at what cost? Burnout, stress, lives swallowed by jobs that promise fulfillment but leave people empty. Can that be called the true meaning of success?”
The professor nodded, folding his hands. “A fair question. We’ve built a world where we wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. But is that a step forward, or just another form of servitude?”
He glanced at the bookshelves, fingers grazing the spines of old biographies. “Think of Van Gogh. He painted brilliance but lived in agony. Nikola Tesla had a mind ahead of his time, yet he died penniless and alone. Even Beethoven, deaf and tormented, created music that outlived him. Were they successful, Selene?”
Selene hesitated. “By history’s measure, yes. But by their own lives, I’m not sure.”
“Exactly,” the professor leaned forward. “We must ask: Is the meaning of success about what we create or how we live? The world may call someone great, but is that greatness enough if they never found peace?”
Selene sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Sometimes I feel like I’m chasing something, but I don’t even know what it is. Everyone says success is about achieving, but what if I don’t know what I want to achieve? What if I get there and it doesn’t feel like enough?”
The professor studied him for a long moment. “I understand that feeling.”
Selene traced the pocket watch’s edges with his fingers, its metallic surface cool against his skin. “You mentioned legacy and struggle, but what about the chase, Dad? The constant striving for more. Society tells us success is about reaching new heights and breaking barriers. But isn’t there a point where the chase itself feels hollow?”
The professor looked at his son, his expression thoughtful. “What you’re describing is the ‘more’—a concept deeply ingrained in our collective psyche. We equate the meaning of success with accumulation—more wealth, more power, more recognition. But let me ask you this, Selene: Is the pursuit of ‘more’ ever truly fulfilling? Or is it a mirage that recedes as we approach it?”
Selene frowned. “So you’re saying we should stop striving altogether?”
“Not exactly,” the professor replied, leaning back in his chair. “The pursuit of success is the desire for more, and a mind that is constantly demanding more is not an intelligent mind.” I think our constant striving often blinds us to what really matters. We chase success as defined by others—society, tradition, authority—but rarely pause to ask if it’s worth pursuing.”
Selene nodded slowly. “So, it’s not about giving up effort but questioning what we’re putting effort into.”
“Precisely,” the professor said. “See how society traps us in a cycle of success and failure, rooted in fear—fear of making mistakes, of not being good enough. But true intelligence lies in stepping outside that cycle. To love what you do with all your being, regardless of success or failure—that’s freedom.”
Selene glanced at the portrait of his grandfather, his brow furrowed. “But isn’t that idealistic? Most people have responsibilities and obligations. Can they afford to live like that?”
The professor smiled gently. “That’s the paradox, isn’t it? Life demands pragmatism, yet it also yearns for authenticity. I do not suggest abandoning responsibility but rather shifting our perspective. Success should not be about comparison or accumulation but about understanding—seeing the facts, without illusion, and aligning our actions with that clarity.”
Outside, the rain softened, its rhythm a gentle backdrop to their conversation. Selene leaned forward. “So, if success isn’t about the ‘more’ or avoiding mistakes, what is it?”
The professor’s voice softened, almost to a whisper. “The meaning of success is when you are no longer chasing. It is when you are fully present, loving what you do without needing validation. It’s a state of being, Selene, not a destination.”
Selene sat back, the words settling over him like the warmth of a fire on a cold night. “That… feels different. Not easier, but simpler.”
“It is,” the professor said. “But simplicity requires courage. The courage to see things as they are and to break free from the patterns that bind us.”
Hello, Artista
“Organum, I liked your collected quote—’ A man who chases two hares catches neither.’ Did you say that because you didn’t get someone you wanted with your heart and soul?” Artista asked with a mystic smile.
Organum, puzzled, laughed and replied, “Probably not. On the contrary, if that were the case, the last part of the proverb—’ A man who walks his own path leaves footprints in eternity’—would not materialize. Would it, Artista?”
Artista sighed. “Success varies on perception.”
“The conversation unfolded under shimmering clouds and peeking constellations. At the same time, Organum’s dogs—RD, MD, Barku, and Gulli—frolicked across the lawn, their joyous barks mingling with the crisp rustle of dry leaves. Meanwhile, Artista, gently brushing her rabbits, Whitee and Brownie, let her fingers glide over their soft fur.
Organum leaned back and added, “The endless chase for success—after all, is the pursuit of ‘more’ ever truly fulfilling, or is it a mirage? Perhaps we should pause and consider if what we’re chasing is even worth the effort.”
Artista nodded; her voice was soft but resolute. “And perhaps, Organum, the true art of success is learning to be present—to love what we do without needing the world’s validation.”
If this journey has stirred a question or sparked your curiosity—whether a deliberate thought or a fleeting idea—know there is always more to explore. Keep learning and stay curious; together, we will uncover more profound insights and new paths. Happy reading!
A breeze stirred the leaves, whispering agreement.
“A man who chases two hares catches neither, but a man who walks his own path leaves footprints in eternity.”
Principal Sources
- Tomlinson, C. A., & Jarvis, J. (2014). Case Studies of Success: Supporting Academic Success for Students With High Potential From Ethnic Minority and Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 37(3), 191-219. ResearchGate
- Weir, K. (2021, April 1). American Psychological Association. APA
- Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2021). What Can Be Learned from Growth Mindset Controversies? American Psychologist. PubMed Central
- Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
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