Life's Purpose: Amassing Wealth as the Goal?
In today's society, success is often equated with wealth, fame, and social media popularity. However, this material-centric view of success can have several detrimental effects on society.
Firstly, it fosters superficial values, emphasizing external validation rather than intrinsic worth or ethical behavior. Secondly, there can be increased mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, partly due to constant comparison and public scrutiny, especially on social media. Thirdly, it risks eroding privacy and authenticity, as people may feel pressured to curate idealized personas rather than live genuine lives.
Society may also experience polarization and resentment, where disparities in wealth and fame create social divisions or feelings of inadequacy among those not "successful" by these measures. Furthermore, it can distort priorities, encouraging consumerism, short-term gratification, and neglect of deeper community, spiritual, or altruistic values.
To shift perspectives towards a more spiritual approach to success and happiness, individuals, families, and communities might reframe success to focus on internal qualities such as compassion, integrity, personal growth, and meaningful relationships rather than external markers. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude, emphasizing present moment awareness and appreciation for what one has, fosters inner peace rather than external validation.
Encouraging community involvement and altruism can build a sense of purpose beyond individual achievement. Promoting educational and cultural narratives that value diverse types of success, including moral, intellectual, and spiritual achievements, can help challenge the status quo. Families can cultivate open dialogues about values, helping younger generations navigate social media critically and develop their own sense of worth independent of fame or wealth.
Spiritual or philosophical traditions often emphasize balance, humility, and connection with something larger than oneself, providing frameworks to redefine happiness beyond material success. For instance, Baha'i teachings define the reason for our creation as promoting civilization, arts, and human happiness. They discourage a sole focus on material possessions and fame, as they can only provide momentary happiness and are neither reliable nor stable.
Instead, the Baha'i teachings encourage continuous labor for the general good and the establishment of new bases for human happiness. They warn against the negative consequences that can arise from the loss of fame or wealth, such as sadness, self-loathing, addiction, and other negative outcomes. They also emphasize the importance of high endeavor in the arena of civilization and justice.
True, lasting happiness is spiritually attained through spiritual activities such as prayer, service, and striving to enhance one's spiritual qualities. Success, according to the Baha'i teachings, is a relative term that can mean different things to different people. Serving human society is a key part of a person's purpose.
Measuring success primarily by wealth, fame, and social media popularity can have a significant impact on society, particularly on youth and the next generation. By shifting our perspective towards a more spiritual approach to success and happiness, we can counter the downsides of fame and social media-driven definitions of success and foster a more balanced, sustainable, and fulfilling way of life.
Finance and wealth management can be misguided priorities when success is solely equated with material wealth, as it may lead to neglect of personal growth and community values. Instead, one might focus on personal finance while also investing in education and self-development for holistic growth and a balanced perspective on success.
A spiritual approach to success emphasizes internal qualities such as compassion, integrity, and personal growth, while also valuing community, altruism, and authenticity. This perspective, promoted by various spiritual traditions and the Baha'i teachings, aims to shift perspectives away from a dependence on external measures of success such as fame and wealth.
