There’s no better feeling than success. The realization of dreams. The culmination of hard work. It can mean getting to work on time, solving a tricky problem, buying a house, or selling a company. Each person defines success on their own timeline, goals, and expectations - this makes an individual’s success impossible to understand from an external perspective. When someone proclaims success, we respond with congratulations, or envy. No matter our response, we never grasp the scope of what their journey entailed.

Supporting others in their achievements is natural. But, what should we do when someone’s definition of success doesn’t align with our own? Perhaps we don’t understand or even agree with their goals. While we may acknowledge their accomplishment, we struggle to celebrate. This disconnect has profound effects on relationships and personal identity.

Sharing success with others makes it more meaningful - but when people don’t value someone else’s achievements, it creates distance. This can lead to a dilemma: should they double down on their success at the risk of alienating others? Or, should they let go of what they’ve worked so hard to achieve? Either choice comes with a cost - the loss of a relationship or a loss of self-validation.

The desire to share success stems from its importance in our lives. Success, for many, isn’t just an end - it’s a driving force. We crave recognition and understanding from those closest to us, even when our victories are deeply personal. Empathy and care are required to bridge the gap, but these qualities are not universal.

Some people approach success systematically. For them, it’s less about celebration and more about necessity. They adopt a relentless mindset: “Go to sleep on a victory, wake up with a loss.” In this case, success is a stepping stone - not a destination. While this approach can be inspiring, it often comes at the expense of relationships and emotional well-being. Failures, whether personal or professional, are dismissed, leaving little room for vulnerability or connection.

Ultimately, success is a personal journey. How we celebrate it and who we share it with is up to us. Perhaps the key to success is flexibility: allowing ourselves to evolve and celebrate in ways that feel authentic. Recognizing and honoring others’ victories, even if we don’t fully understand them, is an act of generosity. After all, what’s the purpose of celebration without a cause? And what’s the point of success if we can’t take a moment to celebrate it?