Everyone feels that they are doing the right thing as long as their aim is being achieved. That moment when we feel on top of the world after achieving our set out Goals then we feel we are successful. Hence general perspective of success is being able to achieve one's purpose per time in life.
No one will ever agree to be a wicked person even if the obvious fact is there. No one will ever perceive him or herself as a bad fellow as long as he/she is achieving set out aims and goals irrespective of the effect on other people. Even when one feels successful, as long as the effect of the process is negative on other people, I think its a bad success.
Recent happenings in Ukraine is an evidence of this. A nation in war against another nation in this century with some personal gain in mind.
The perpetuator is doing the right thing according to his plan and he's fulfilling his laid down purpose. At the end, if things goes as planned for him, he'll be successful as far as he's concerned. Every perception of success is acceptable except such as the above scenario.
Spirituality is intertwined with humanity and anything done to affect human life negatively should not count as a success.
Success happens in stages and not necessarily at the end of life. Successes vary in magnitude depending on the impact on a bigger picture which is one's purpose.
For example, going through medical school was hell of a journey. It involved writing a final exam that encompassed almost everything learnt throughout medical school. Before this final exams, 3 other professional exams were written at different stages. Passing each of those exam was a big success and passing loads of continuous assessment tests to qualify for these exams were successes on their own. Passing the final exam and becoming a medical doctor was the big picture however achieving these smaller successes was important to the final goal.
Aside academic success as exampled above, having good achievement in other spheres of life like marriage, career, finances.... Is also perceived as success.
As far as spirituality is concerned, it may be really challenging to strictly define what success is. achieving one's aim or plan may not really qualify 'the success'. Being wealthy, acquiring the best academic qualifications..... Achieving every good thing humanly speaking may not fully express 'the success'. They are all great achievements but being able to impact humanity by expressing results of everything we've consciously or unconsciously invested on ourselves over the years is the real success.
Not everyone who achieved all they want to can be tagged as being successful especially if they all are personal and selfish achievement with no impact.
"We all have our world around us and not everybody will necessarily have the chance to have a global impact. As long as i can significantly influence my immediate environment and beyond in a positive way with the investments I've made and still making on my self, then I'm a success"
My idea of a true success is synced with the world's perception of success. No true success comes without self investment and self investment results in life achievement.
The money of a wealthy man is needed to make an impact just as the knowledge of the learned. The experience of the doctor is needed to save a life just as the skill of the nurse.
We all have a level of investment in us which can be used appropriately for the benefit of people around us and humanity at large.
We do not need to compare our abilities and achievements to make us feel successful.
We all are successful one way or the other and we can have more success as long as we continue to live a life of impact on our immediate world.
Thank you for reading.