In today’s achievement-driven world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring success solely by how much money we earn. Much like Abhimanyu was taught warfare, many are taught that wealth, status, and amassing material things are the markers of life even before they are born.

While I advocate for everyone — especially the youth — to become employable, it’s a purposeful life that ultimately gives you the satisfaction of living. This insight struck me as I thought about my sister, who chose to walk a different path than most.

Walking A Different Path

Growing up, my sister was a monster in my life (just joking!). While I was an above-average student, she was an embodiment of academic excellence. A topper throughout her school years, she was even listed in the local newspapers for scoring perfect grades in several subjects.

With an internship at Princeton University and an MS from the valued UPenn, she had it all served on a platter for a high-paying corporate job. Yet, this woman followed her heart and walked a different path, which for many might seem like a step down — she became a teacher. The initial reaction of many was one of puzzlement. Why would this person sell herself short for a job that society undervalues?

Soon, however, it became apparent that she was leaping towards something more significant. My sister wasn’t the kind of person to move in the direction of financial gains. She wished to make a difference in the world and find fulfillment through teaching.

Finding A Delicate Balance

Continuing the tale of my sister, after a few years of working as a school teacher, she quit to start her own small, home-grown coaching center. While most of the neighboring centers aimed at enrolling the cream of the crop to promote themselves, my sister took in students who had failed academically.

Working innovatively with her students, she made many of them pass with such good grades that the happy parents thronged her home to felicitate her. Even as I write this, she continues laboring day and night, making a difference in society in her own silent way.

If you pay attention, you can see that the direction my sister took struck a delicate balance. She managed to blend purpose with practicality. Her coaching center and other teaching ventures keep her financially stable while she finds fulfillment in teaching and uplifting others.

Achieving Holistic Success

Holistic success requires us not to sacrifice one aspect of life for another. It is about combining all the needs to find that perfect middle ground. While service to others is admirable, it can’t come at the expense of ourselves. At the same time, making money shouldn’t mean losing our lives.

This is a core thought process of Hinduism called Dharma: we are to follow our hearts to find fulfillment, but we do that while being smart and realistic about the world.

My sister’s life demonstrates Dharma, which says that purpose and money can coexist. However, that can happen only when we are clear about what truly matters to us. She found that sweet spot where goodness intersected with her practical needs, making her success holistic and her life purposeful.

A Purposeful Life

It is loud and clear that society equates success with wealth accumulation. Still, is that really so for you? This is where we must ask ourselves: what truly makes a life well-lived? Is it the pursuit of wealth or the courage to align our lives with our values?

Before getting to those questions, though, you would have to ask yourself the quintessential question: how do you define a successful life? If you visualize yourself a few years from now, what would make you proud of yourself: will it be your bank balance or the number of lives you touched?

For me, as with my sister, it has always been about a life of moderation where personal goals also serve a greater purpose. Such a life calls for us to step away from society’s checklists and be brave enough to define what success means to us. As they say — dare to be remarkable!

Love,
Sri Devi Om