Watched the movie Fashion. It can be aptly described as an effort to understand the effects and side-effects of success. How the meaning of success changes for the successful and how it is seen from the eyes of a struggler who is trying to reach the desired pinnacle of fame, and what happens after s/he reaches that illusory pedestal of success.
Then after reaching that much coveted goal how one handles this new found taste which is much more intoxicating than the most potent intoxicant on Earth. The high that one gets inebriated with this sweet success and the change that happens in one's persona, unnoticeable to self, is surely a dangerous way of self destruction.
So lets start by trying to understand 'What is this dangerous intoxicant-Success?'
Loosely we can define Success as "A desirable state which gives a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment post achievement, reached after putting in much efforts to achieve the same."
For a student-Success would be Getting the First Rank
For an athlete- Getting the First place in his event
For a Businessman-Depending upon the stage maybe increase in sales, beat his nearest rival, earn the maximum profit and so on
So we see apparently Success seems to be quite a relative term depending upon an individual and how he defines it, but again we see the definition itself depends upon the different life stages, business cycle and may be other dependent variables not accounted for above (which can again be numerous)
But scraping deeply under the apparent definitions of Success, according to me, there should be some common underlying factor which must bind and present Success to be more like a Universal constant across everywhere and for everyone..... It cannot be and should not be such a vague term... Let's try and understand the feelings that success evokes in an individual. Euphoria, elation, satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment are the adjectives in decreasing order which can aptly describe a successful person's state of mind. Now the question arises if suppose there is still a nagging sense of doubt or a tinge of unhappiness or an iota of discomfort post this Success then we can safely say that it is not the actual desired result which was expected and can be considered a kind of pseudo success lasting only for the time interval till the rush of adrenaline and the high of endorphins released in the bloodstream wanes.
So now we reach a modified definition of success as "Something which one aspires for, yearns for and toils to achieve and gets a perfect sense of fulfillment post achievement of Success without any uncertainities, unhappiness or doubts whatsoever."
Then after reaching that much coveted goal how one handles this new found taste which is much more intoxicating than the most potent intoxicant on Earth. The high that one gets inebriated with this sweet success and the change that happens in one's persona, unnoticeable to self, is surely a dangerous way of self destruction.
So lets start by trying to understand 'What is this dangerous intoxicant-Success?'
Loosely we can define Success as "A desirable state which gives a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment post achievement, reached after putting in much efforts to achieve the same."
For a student-Success would be Getting the First Rank
For an athlete- Getting the First place in his event
For a Businessman-Depending upon the stage maybe increase in sales, beat his nearest rival, earn the maximum profit and so on
So we see apparently Success seems to be quite a relative term depending upon an individual and how he defines it, but again we see the definition itself depends upon the different life stages, business cycle and may be other dependent variables not accounted for above (which can again be numerous)
But scraping deeply under the apparent definitions of Success, according to me, there should be some common underlying factor which must bind and present Success to be more like a Universal constant across everywhere and for everyone..... It cannot be and should not be such a vague term... Let's try and understand the feelings that success evokes in an individual. Euphoria, elation, satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment are the adjectives in decreasing order which can aptly describe a successful person's state of mind. Now the question arises if suppose there is still a nagging sense of doubt or a tinge of unhappiness or an iota of discomfort post this Success then we can safely say that it is not the actual desired result which was expected and can be considered a kind of pseudo success lasting only for the time interval till the rush of adrenaline and the high of endorphins released in the bloodstream wanes.
So now we reach a modified definition of success as "Something which one aspires for, yearns for and toils to achieve and gets a perfect sense of fulfillment post achievement of Success without any uncertainities, unhappiness or doubts whatsoever."
To be more clear let's again move back to the movie Fashion, the protagonist aspires to become a top model and in the race for the coveted position starts losing sight of things. The things which she used to hate and meant the World starts becoming insignificantly smaller and even acceptable with her increasing stature. Next with success comes the Power which directly hits the head, further blinding the ethical and moral sense and the downfall begins. As all good things must eventually come to an end and gradually the numbed mind loses control and the self plummets into the depths of delusion. And when the eyes open after hitting the bottom and eyes open to the ugly Reality, it is already too late....
Finally to quote Rig Veda "Only the Person to have firm Conviction and iron Volition can attain strength and energy. At no stage of Karma does he ever hesitate." and to add on to this "and achieves real success and continues to enjoy the fruits of his perseverance without losing his feet on ground."
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