We Need to Rethink How We Define Success and Happiness

Rethinking Success and Happiness

Growing up in the United States, the definition of success was simple: it was measured by how much we had. Happiness was then based on that same materialism, treated as a reward for everything we managed to collect. In this culture, more is almost always better. It is a cycle of the newer car, the designer bag, and the latest iPhone. We are taught from a young age to be attracted to the bigger, faster, and shinier options, often dismissing this as a byproduct of having surplus time and money. But the cost of this mindset is deeper than the price tag.

In the West, we often ask how much someone has. But after spending time in different cultures, I have realized that while we are busy accumulating, much of the rest of the world is asking a different question: How can we share our time?

The Global Blueprint

There is a common misconception that people in developing nations focus on community only because they lack the resources for materialism. I believe the opposite is true. Their priorities have shifted because they value a different version of success and a more sustainable form of happiness.

• Nepal: Success is tied to a life of simplicity with a deep sense of purpose. This is most visible in the community aspect of the mountains, where life is built on a foundation of mutual support. There is a collective resilience where the focus is not on individual achievement but on the strength of the group. Happiness is found in this shared responsibility and the spiritual landscape that anchors everyone to a common goal.

• Spain: Success is measured by how well you live, not just how hard you work. The slower pace and the siesta respect the human need to stop and simply exist. Happiness is found in the pause.

• Mexico: Joy is a collective energy found in music, sports, and being together. Whether it is a family meal or a crowded stadium, happiness is not something you buy; it is a community you join.

• Fiji and Tonga: Success is defined by the strength of the community. Entire evenings are shared over kava and storytelling, where the goal of the day is to maintain the bond with those around you.

• The Balkans and Morocco: Success is found in hospitality. There is an immense pride in a shared meal, a bottle of wine, and the value of a deep conversation with a stranger. Happiness is the byproduct of being a good host.

• Peru and Bolivia: Indigenous traditions blend into everyday routines. Success is viewed as being in harmony with the land and your ancestry, which in turn creates a grounded sense of happiness.

The 33L Philosophy

Nothing hammers this home like a long-distance trek. Walking 800km on the Camino or spending 22 days in the Himalayas forces a realization that is more emotional than physical. It is the discovery of just how little you actually need to feel successful or happy.

When you are out there, you realize that every extra object is a weight on your mind as much as your back. You start to look at your gear and ask if you really need that extra layer or a second cooking pot. It is not a rejection of materialism; it is the practical realization that those things do not actually improve your day. In fact, they usually just get in the way of the experiences you came for.

You learn that happiness is found in the small, immediate things. It is the hot cup of coffee after a long day when your feet are cold and your ears are numb. It is the energy of a hot meal shared with others or the relief of seeing the sun pop out for a few minutes on a cloudy day. It is the simple comfort of petting a dog you meet on the trail.

This process strips away the noise and leaves you with a very clear understanding of your own requirements. Whether I am gone for two weeks or nine months, everything I need now fits into a 33L backpack. A few shirts, two pairs of shorts, long pants, Birkenstocks, and trail runners.

The Re-entry Shock

The true test of this philosophy happened when I returned to the U.S. straight from a trip through South America. Walking through Boston, I saw an advertisement that read: Stressed out? Shop! Retail Therapy.

I stopped and read it three times, laughing at the absurdity. Yet the cultural gravity of the West is incredibly strong. Within two weeks of being back, I found myself browsing for a new rain jacket simply because mine felt too old.

It is hard to blame anyone for falling into this trap when it is so deeply engineered into our environment. But we need a reset. We need to stop defining success and happiness solely by what we can accumulate and start defining them by the depth of our connections and the strength of the communities we build.