What Is Success? What is Failure?

I occasionally hear discussions on the topics of success and failure and I have always wanted to talk about what I thought about success and failure (more specifically, what I believe is a successful person). There were two events that made me want to write a post on this. One such event happened recently, and the other happened a while ago during a family function.

I have been watching the NBA Playoffs borderline-religiously this season, and one of the big upsets happened in the Eastern Conference first round when the eighth-seeded Miami Heat beat the first-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games to move onto the next round. During the post-game press conference after the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs, a reporter looking for a soundbite asked Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Bucks' season was a failure. Giannis responded with an excellent and poignant answer that was a far cry from the usual boring and canned responses players give in interviews. Giannis' answer and the ensuing discussion on Inside the NBA is worth a watch (embedded below):

Objectively, you can do something and fail at it. However, I think the concept of failure is how you perceive it. You can take the "put all of your eggs in one basket" approach and make something that you do or love, so much a part of your identity that when you fail (or it fails) that it causes mental health issues and even depression. This is not the right way to perceive failure. It sounds cliche, but it could be beneficial to take the "you either win or you learn" approach to failure. When something does not go your way, you can still gain valuable knowledge, rethink your approach, and try again.

I remember hearing a discussion between my cousin and my uncle, and at the end of the discussion, I remember my cousin telling my uncle to "find successful people and listen to them". My cousin said this in the context of successful people having the most material wealth. I despise this idea that society puts in peoples’ heads that having the most money and material possessions is the sole measure of success, because it is not. I believe that success is tied to happiness and charity. If you are happy doing something, playing your role in society, and being kind to others, then I think you are a successful person.

Do I consider myself a successful person? I guess so. I never thought that I would be able to enjoy something that I do and make a living off it. I have had teachers tell me that I would never amount to anything, and I have had this desire to prove people wrong. I like where I am right now, but it is also in my innate nature to improve myself and improve my standard of living. Also, I try not to compare myself with my peers, because comparison is the thief of joy.