Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be successful in a highly competitive, materialistic, and socially competitive world?
Do you want to be rich one day? Will that make you happy and content with yourself?
How about having spiritual and materialistic success at the same time?
There are many ways to define success. It is however an important aspect of life that defines our character, and perhaps what we all aim for. What makes accomplishments in life satisfying are the thoughts behind them.
If you are not sure which path to take to achieve materialistic success, spiritual success, or both, then let’s make it easier on you!
The choice is entirely dependent on what you want from life and yourself. You must select what is important to you and then take the road that will lead you there.
Which one do you choose? It’s a simple but yet profound question. Your answer could determine what kind of life you build for yourself.
The decision is not something that is to be taken lightly. After all, it’s a choice that can impact your happiness and success, as well as the happiness and success of the people around you.
Spirituality goes beyond materialistic success. It is not about how much money you have in your pocket, or the car you're driving. It is about the real happiness that comes from understanding the world and being content with what you have.
By allowing yourself to be driven by your emotions, you are allowing your mind to rule over you. You must realize that emotions are essential and are a form of communication. Allowing your mind to rule over you can lead to negative emotions; this is why people get jealous, suspect others, and have difficulty dealing with relationships. You must realize that emotional intelligence is more important than book smarts. Certain things can be taught in school, but certain things must be learned through experience. These lessons cannot always be taught in school, like how to work with others or overcoming jealousy.
For most of us, life aims to gain material pleasures and worldly luxuries. We run behind money, status power, and security; but as soon as we get what we want, it’s never enough. We are always running after more and more. In the material world, one is never enough; there is always something more to be acquired.
Spirituality teaches us that we need to develop the right understanding about our human nature; that no one can bring us lasting happiness because no one can give us what we lack within ourselves: inner peace.
Spirituality teaches us to develop the right understanding about our human nature; that no one can bring us lasting happiness because no one can give what we lack within ourselves: inner peace. We all have emotions or feelings; anger, jealousy, suspicion: these feelings make up our personality and character. When we understand how to deal with these emotions, we learn how to become happier with ourselves and with others around us.
There is immense debate today on the topics of spirituality and materialism.
Spirituality is the independent nature of the human soul and it is completely invincible. It doesn't need any support or power from the outside.
Materialism is a disposition to material wealth and it needs external assistance.
Spiritual success unites us with the entire world, whereas material success creates a divide.
Spirituality liberates us from emotions of anger, pride, greed, deceit, attachment, and abhorrence which have been the main source of conflicts, while materialism inculcates damaging habits that of comparison, jealousy, dishonesty, lying, cheating, or hurting people, which are some of the fundamental reasons for unhappiness.
Why is it that the materialistic success of some people comes at a price of solitude, while the pursuit of spiritual success gives rise to friendship, love, and happiness?
Is spiritual success the same as materialistic success?
I have come across this thought that spiritual success is not the same as materialistic success. And I tend to agree.
A successful person lives life with a purpose, not a person who spends a lifetime working just for money and materialistic possessions. I know, I am digressing a bit here. But in my opinion, life is about pursuing happiness and joy, not just accumulating wealth.
Spiritual success unites us with the entire world, whereas material success creates a divide. Those who are materially successful are compared to those who are less successful in the same field. Just go through the Forbes list of billionaires.
Spiritual success and materialistic success are mutually exclusive. You can have one or the other, but you cannot have both. The reason is simple. The two paradigms are based upon mutually exclusive concepts. Spiritual success is attained when one has realized the present moment as the only reality and rejected the illusory concept of past and future. Materialistic success means running behind future desires and thinking about past pains. Where there is competition and comparison, know that one is not pursuing spiritual success.
The Benefits Of A Spiritual Lifestyle
A spiritual lifestyle has other benefits too. It can help you alleviate stress and promote physical, mental, and psychological wellness. A spiritual lifestyle means living in a way that promotes your personal growth while serving others. For example, by developing compassion and empathy for others, and by helping those who are less fortunate than yourself. This is a much more effective way to achieve success in life than simply chasing after more money and more stuff.
Seeking spiritual achievement entails discovering your own self, The spiritual path is for individuals who want to know "who am I?"
In spiritual science, we are told that our real source of joy is the Soul, which is pure consciousness. This eternal soul is the source of happiness; it is the subtlest form of all that exists and has infinite potential. Once in this infinite state, one can be free from all material worries and sufferings; free from all physical desires and cravings, and also free from charging new karmas i.e. merit and demerit.
Living in the material world, we often forget to take out time for introspection and tend to get lost in the daily worries of life. We sometimes think a high financial position and high materialistic success is the answer to our worries. But going more deeply into this question, it remains a paradox to many that spiritual progress and materialistic success go hand in hand! Spirituality directly affects one’s material life and being spiritually successful is not necessarily making a lot of money. If you are born a rich person, it is natural that you will enjoy the riches in life; and if you are born poor you will have to struggle for your survival in this world.
We are all subject to certain circumstances and our duty is to tackle them wisely instead of complaining about them. Being surrounded by unnecessary worries helps no one. Hence, we will find more spiritual successes, if we are financially poor but able to live happily even though we do not have the luxuries of life.
Spirituality is a very subjective term. Some people think that it is just a matter of how one thinks, feels, and behaves. And they believe that one can earn his living in any way and in any profession. They feel that money is not Anti-Spiritual or Godless.
The other group of people considers spirituality to be the essential core of one’s being; and they are of the view that for spirituality or God-realisation, one has to give up all worldly possessions or material gains, or both.
They believe that money is an impediment in the realization of Self, and hence, it has to be given up.
They feel that materialistic gains are temporary and illusory whereas spiritual success is ultimate and everlasting.
True Spirituality or God-realisation is a state where you identify your real Self (your Soul) with the Universal Soul (God), i.e., where you realize your oneness with God.
