Is Success Worth It If You Lose What Matters?
Introduction: The True Meaning of Success in Life
LIFE â is it about Love Is For Everyone? Live In Full Energy? Life Is Facing Everything? We can create countless acronyms for the word âLIFE,â But beyond acronyms and clever sayings, the true meaning of success in life comes down to a simple question: Is success worth it if you lose what really matters?
The aspects and importance of life vary for everyone, and itâs impossible to agree universally on what really matters in life. For most of us, life begins to take a serious turn around the age of 35 to 40. Itâs in this phase that many of us reflect on our life priorities list and where weâve invested our time and energy. Before this, life often feels like a raceâfast-paced, goal-driven, and less thoughtful than it should be.
But life isnât just about chasing goals and achievements. Itâs about balance â knowing when to slow down, and deciding wisely what deserves our time, energy, and love.
The Big Question: What Really Matters?
How do we figure out what truly matters? What should take first place on our top 10 priorities in life, and what can wait?
Imagine this: Regardless of your ageâ18, 30, 40, or 80âyou suddenly discover you have just a few minutes of life left. Youâre taking your final breaths. What will you wish for in that moment?
If youâre a sports person, will you ask to bring all your trophies to see them one last time? and suppose youâre an actor, would you want to watch your award-winning performances again? If youâre a businessman or a shopkeeper, would you want to gaze at your earnings, degrees, or certificates? Or perhaps visit the luxurious house that symbolizes your lifeâs hard work?
A Moment of Reflection
Close your eyes and ask yourself: What would I want to see in my final moments?
This question holds the answer to human relations for career and personal success as well as life itself. For me, and likely for most of you, the answer wonât be material achievements or possessions. It will be a person we love, someone we care deeply about.
Weâll want to see them. To feel their presence one last time.
A Personal Experience: Family Relationships
Let me share a story that left a profound impact on me. In another blog post titled âHavenât You Cried Yet?Why?Cry…â I mentioned a disabled woman and my husbandâs aunt, a remarkable woman whose life reflected the essence of love and selflessness.
She had no children. She adopted her sisterâs daughter and a son from her brother-in-law, becoming a mother to them in every way that mattered. Her life wasnât easy. She took care of her husband for 15 years because he was suffering from an illness that left him bedridden. Her children got married and settled in their lives, and she lived with us in the village.
And in the final years of her life, she too became paralyzed. For almost 10 years before her death, she spent her days bedridden, completely dependent on others.
When she was on her deathbed, she was no longer aware of the world around her. In those moments, her subconscious thoughts revealed what truly mattered to her. Whenever I stood beside her, she would call out her daughterâs name. When my husband was near, she thought he was her son, speaking to him as though he had been by her side all along.
It was heartbreaking that the two people she loved and nurtured the most werenât there in her final moments. This experience reminded me how, at the end of life, itâs not our possessions or accomplishments we long for but the presence of those we hold dear â our family relationships.
The True Essence of Life: Love Over Success
If you think deeply, at that moment, we all long for love and connection. Lifeâs true essence lies in relationships goals, but unfortunately, we spend most of our lives chasing everything elseâcareers, wealth, and recognitionâwhile neglecting the one thing that truly matters.
We overlook our loved ones, the people who would stand by us no matter what. Sometimes, we prioritize the world over a single relationship that could have brought us peace and joy for a lifetime.
The story of my husbandâs aunt serves as a gentle reminder. She wasnât wealthy, nor did she achieve worldly fame. But her life was rich with love and sacrifice. She left behind not trophies or accolades but the memory of a heart that loved deeply.
On the other hand, many celebrities and business icons confess late in life that they spent too much energy sacrificing family for career. They had the worldâs recognition, but little joy at home. So, what truly defines success? Is love over success the real measure? Or is it balance?
Beyond Relationships: What Else Truly Matters?
Health and Success Balance
Without health, no form of success in life can be enjoyed. Many people work day and night, pushing themselves to extremes, only to later realize theyâve lost their strength, energy, or even years of their life to stress and exhaustion. A true health and success balance means knowing when to pause, rest, and care for your body and mind. Because success is pointless if youâre too weak or unwell to enjoy the fruits of your hard work.
Peace of Mind vs Success
Another overlooked treasure is inner calm. Success that comes at the cost of constant anxiety, sleepless nights, or broken values is a hollow win. Peace of mind vs success is not a choice you should be forced to make â they should walk hand in hand. A trophy or promotion cannot replace the comfort of a good nightâs sleep or the serenity of a clear conscience. True fulfillment lies in success that doesnât rob you of your inner stability.
Time and Freedom: The Hidden Wealth
Time is the one resource you can never earn back. Many people spend decades sacrificing family for career, only to realize that the moments they missed with their children, parents, or passions will never return. Freedom to live life on your own terms â to travel, to learn, to simply be with loved ones â is often more valuable than money in the bank. Real-life priorities should include protecting your time, because it is the foundation on which love, health, and happiness stand.
Even Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan once admitted that in chasing stardom and recognition, he neglected his family. His story reflects a universal truth â that sacrificing family for career can cost more than it gives. And this isnât just about celebrities: Harvardâs 80-year study shows that strong relationships, not wealth or fame, are what truly bring lasting happiness.
A Gentle Reminder: Work-Life Balance
This post isnât about dismissing ambition, success, or goals. These are important aspects of life, but they shouldnât come at the cost of losing whatâs irreplaceable. Work life balance is the key. As we climb the ladders of success, letâs not forget to hold the hands of those we love.
In the end, life isnât measured by the trophies we collect but by the hearts we touch. So, take a moment today to reflect on your top 10 priorities in life. Ask yourself what truly matters, and make sure itâs on your list.
Because when your time comes, you wonât wish for your possessionsâyouâll wish for your connections, your family relationships, your peace of mind, and your health. And thatâs the real success.