What is 'success'?

[@contortedsmile]

I can't explain in the right combination of words how truly life altering this channel and "The Book of Life" is. A huge amount of gratitude to all the people involved in the making of these positive forces for change and progress to a brighter future. I hope that some day soon I can also find my place among the ranks of individuals working meaningfully towards next great renaissance and era of enlightenment.

[@GodDamnit7711]

Taylor Moody The movie book of life? If so, I may now go watch it!

[@contortedsmile]

GodDamnit7711 No, the website. www.thebookoflife.org/

[@contortedsmile]

atentat07 That is groundbreaking advice! You should start your own channel!

[@GodDamnit7711]

Taylor Moody Awwe man, I thought you were talking the movie lol!

[@contortedsmile]

GodDamnit7711 It got pretty decent reviews but I haven't seen it yet.

[@dansucio3445]

This channel is raising me

[@khaledbenaida3532]

dansucio me too ❤️

[@atherasmyrthos4539]

Just wonderful, I have been researching "what does it mean to be successful in life?" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Tenayce Dumbfounded Theorem - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my mate got cool results with it.

[@jkennedy299]

For me, success is to truly be happy. I'm not talking about the "happiness" obtained from material possessions (although I'd like that too) I'm talking about truly being actually fulfilled with life. Maybe I'll never succeed, maybe I will tomorrow, either way, I'll keep trying, because it's worth it.

[@dannysze8183]

I think if you have a goal that you are working on it and feel fullfilled, that is already successful disregarding how the society perceive it. Eg. Paul Cezaane live a very simple but dedicated life, his public recognition comes late in his life, but I think his success comes early when he decide to pursue what he loves and feel fullfilled.

[@raimabanerjee2612]

"How do you evaluate success?" or "How do you define success?" The best approach to answering this question is to think of specific examples of your successes and explain to yourself the factors that contributed to your achievements. Success is looking back at your life, when you are in your final moments, and possessing a great amount of pride around your creations, accomplishments, and legacy, while possessing little to no regret about what you did not do and missed opportunities. If I can die feeling this way, I believe this is success. Source: sawan-kumar.com/blog/whats-your-success-definition/ for inspirational video.

[@xrenegade87xchannel88]

Happiness is a fleeting meaningless emotion life is not necessarily about being happy life is about having a purpose

[@jkennedy299]

@Ajay Choudhary i take home an average amount for my region, and i work a very tough dangerous job to earn it When i made this comment, i was struggling a lot more than i am now, but id say i was happier. I still haven’t mastered the art of working ’full time’

[@pauldirc..]

​@@jkennedy299how are you doing now

[@CiHLoL]

love the video. Still do not know what to do with my life.

[@CiHLoL]

that is discouraging

[@clashof6clans799]

Critical Hit just find something you love like music or art or writing or anything else, find something to make you happy, have fun , if. Youre looking for a carreer make it something you love maybe even start your own business

[@leeuwtjevanjuda]

Critical Hit Just kill time succesfully. ;) Well, there is even a bit of thruth in it, do what you do now in the best way possible. If that mean's thinking about what you would like to do, or trying out new things, whatever you do, make it a succes!

[@robbert-janmerk6783]

Critical Hit Welcome to the human condition :) I would suggest trying to solve smaller problems, like figuring out what to do the coming year.

[@ummmerrrrummm]

Critical Hit Me neither.

[@InfectedBlowjob]

In my opinion, success is achieving the goals you yourself set and being content with the end result.

[@andrealeto99]

shut up harold

[@debashishbala8509]

The meaning Goal is Money for most of us.. so does this mean Money is the success ?

[@Stinkuh69]

​@@debashishbala8509if obtaining wealth is a goal for you then yes it is

[@PaidFamCap]

Someone once told me success with limited by your accolades but success is only just doing what you love to do because not a lot of people get to do that

[@pixtlewint5095]

True:)

[@manning6680]

I come to this channel daily. I can say with certainty this channel has enhanced my life. Thank you so so much.

[@gybx4094]

You are successful if you are at peace with yourself. If you can accept who you are and know that you have value regardless of what anyone else thinks. Doing simple ordinary things in life can benefit others and yourself. If you achieve a tranquil mind, you will be extraordinary in our present society. If you can find gratitude for what you have and embrace a simple life, then you are rich. If you can face your mortality courageously without fear, then you have great success.

[@ZaphaQ]

Just leaving some words here: I love this channel! Just want to thank you guys for existing.

[@Chuschannel]

There are so many different aspects to success. This video reminds us that we shouldn't necessarily buy into the common ideas surrounding success, and we should examine our own personal beliefs and viewpoints on the matter, something that I suspect that many of us do not do in a deep, specific and honest way.

[@ahlembenchaa9185]

Success might be a state of mind , peace of mind it doesn't necessarily be giving other people or showing people your life in social media

[@13ururu13]

Just have to say your video production values are always off the charts spectacular! Great job there, also overall high quality food for thought. KZbin can finally be called a place where cat videos, let's plays and schools of thought can co exist.

[@KudakwashePedyo]

I would define success as when you achieve personal goals that are generally regarded as worthwhile by people that are close to you; the closer your goal is classed as being universal worthwhile the more of a success it is.

[@wyborglaw2819]

Success is in living as well as dying, and everything in between must be full of kindness, courage, intelligent and persistence.

[@ishadawaher-bakhos1048]

Guys, I just wanna say a truly profound thank you to you guys of The School of Life, especially to de Botton, you've helped me a lot through my stupid yet huge depression.

[@leeuwtjevanjuda]

Jesús Dawaher Bakhos There is no stupidity in depression. It might take a while, and it can be really hard at times, but in the end a depression is an opportunity to revalue yourself, and the things you hold dear.

[@robbert-janmerk6783]

Jesús Dawaher Bakhos Most despression sufferers feel stupid during their depressions (I know I did), but it's entirely inaccurate. You're not stupid, you're fighting your own mind, that's why it's so hard. I've seen especially intelligent people struggle with depression, as their keen introspection and highly developed critical thinking grinds their minds into misery.

[@bolivar1789]

Jesús Dawaher Bakhos Hi there Jesus! Of course Alain's work is unique and incredibly helpful for almost everything in life! You may also subsribe to his online book " The Book of Life". But specifically on the issue of depression I would like to recommend you the work of Andrew Solomon. He is a wonderful writer, who himself suffered from severe depression. They say his book "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression" is excellent. You can also watch his TED Talk called " Depression the secret we share". He has another very, very interesting speech about a personal experience he had while studying treatments for depression in rural Africa . Just search for "The Moth Presents Andrew Solomon: Notes on an Exorcism" on youtube.

[@AntonioSoltysik]

how did he exactly help you,overcome depression?i mean which videos were so crucial

[@ishadawaher-bakhos1048]

Well, I'm still on it, but these videos help me because they give me fresh perspective on life, whilst what depression does is narrow it, so well, it's mostly that, and also the tremendously kind scripts of the videos. I would just recommend you to go through their videos, the one on resilience helps, to give you one example.

[@zomuankimakhawlhring5366]

I've been thinking about this and I've come to the conclusion that money does not mean success but it also do, success can take many forms, for some having lots of money is success, for some, having a family and living happily is success, for some, helping others and contributing to the society and work for the greater cause for humanity is success, for some, being able to keep learning is success.

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

This lesson harkens back to the beginnings of the long arc our mutual philosophic investigations into what the 'good life' means. Pittakos of Mytilene (7th to 6th century BCE) was asked once, "What is best?" and replied, "To do the present thing well."

[@Fuar11]

To me success is to live a happy life of uncovering the true meaning of being human. Living my self defined purpose.

[@leolim3552]

Love the more mellow narration and new animations.

[@ela2168]

I love this channel, the artwork, the soothing voice of the narrators: Alain De Botton, and others, and the intelligent yet ever-so-kind content. A sincere thanks to the whole team at The School of Life. Thank you for making a difference.

[@Zoelis17]

I love this channel. It speaks so nicely what I have thought for a while. I just got in an argument with my mother because she does not believe these ideas and thinks I am taking life too seriously by believing them. But, I guess...to each their own. Thank you for taking the time and doing this. It's magnificent.

[@rachelyy]

One of my favourites from your channel, by far. (The animation just gets better and better!) This is such a lovely reminder especially in this day and age.

[@DeshierArchitecte]

The art direction from these videos is astoundingly good.

[@stickyscribbles4395]

Success is taking what little you have and making it work.

[@Zimologist]

Hannah Jacobs, those were some beautiful illustrations.

[@callumboscoe8685]

Working smartly to achieve something you really care about.

[@Wade9wilson]

I’m in Canada working as security guard and at warehouse since 2018 while my colleagues and my relatives came in 2020 But they’re having field jobs and earning way more than me. But I’m happy 😃 I pray, meditate, talk to my family That’s what is more important!

[@damarriwu8135]

for me.. success is something that I am doing well and meaningful for me.

[@intertwinedinside]

I agree that success should be distinct. Only us can decide whether our life is a successful one or not, by our standard. We don't have to care other's standard.

[@kalilkash973]

What gorgeous animation.

[@AlexaSaarenoja]

Great quick video reminding us what success really means. Thanks!

[@mamaurax25]

That is very true. Most of the things we don't understand the true meaning which leads us to miss the point.

[@OPOOM.]

Family, Health, Success, Happiness and Love Songs

[@buddhaneosiddhananda8499]

Real success, means happiness and it's not found in the material world, but in the spiritual life...

[@NathanSeaward]

Another beautiful video, Alain. They are so well thought out and perfectly poignant. Thank you.

[@wejdansager6131]

The School of Life is Success at its Best

[@Baby_Bones]

"Succes is when the reality match your expectations maybe more" my opinion that should be taken with grains of salt

[@jdgrahamo]

Succeed means to come after, and is the opposite of proceed, to go before. If you don't fail, you succeed, simple as that. The easiest way to 'achieve success'' is to begin.

[@elissablight3031]

So beautiful! The content as well as the tone of Alain's voice as well as the visuals...so tender and moving :')

[@elissablight3031]

Rebecca Blight so genuine...

[@esq.m7076]

A roof over your head, food on the table, a loving selfless family and a set of a few loyal friends who supports you no matter what ... devoid of strings or anything in return in empty fame 🧜🏻‍♀️ or decaying fortune 🔮 ... selfless comfort always in integrity ...

[@tiagocastro8434]

i love your voice and the way you talk

[@elefantieleganti]

I love these types of little animations that go with the video.

[@terencehennegan1439]

Success is relative to each individual. The mistake most people make is allowing their ego to be their judge.

[@CuMentorulînVacanță]

Success is always doing your best. 🏆

[@gnuPirate]

All the animations are great : I really liked this one, and the bits of sound design put in too.

[@TheYafaShow]

What is the secret to success? Right decisions. How do you make right decisions? Experience. How do you get experience? Wrong decisions.

[@TheYaemin]

Works by the School of Life give me so much inspiration and at some points make me cry. Your videos truely know "just when to put an arm around someone when it's too much." Thank you. :')

[@bradmichaud4811]

David Chilton's "A Wealthy Barber" discussed this idea in his book about basic personal finance. The number you make at the end of the day or the title you have doesn't determine how "successful" you are. It just doesn't account for: are you a good parent, did you find the right partner, are you happy with how you live your life, do you enjoy the things (or experiences) you buy, do you miss the ones you decide aren't worth buying/doing? Great Canadian book that helps make life on a low income happier than some on insanely high incomes.

[@limalemona]

This is a precious little youtube paradise. i've always been in love with all your videos.

[@cl7657]

i used to want to be someone great. i just imagined changing the world in a big way were everyone is happy. Now i just want to be happy. I would consider anyone successful if they were happy in any situation they were in. like a bum living in his car. if he is happier than working a 9-5 job and can breathe more air into his or her lungs than the guy who is CEO then id envy him.

[@Galivardeu]

When i take power in my country all the stuff in this channel will be taught at school.

[@rajvijay3276]

One of the best infographics!! Too much meaning in less than 120 seconds.

[@thehappyunknown]

Success today has pretty much turned into a positive word for disguising an unhealthy need for constant validation. Whenever this need for validation is dissatisfied one immediately feels unsuccessful.

[@EappleSandbox]

I thought I was watching TED talks.

[@kantmonk]

the real success is your knowledge

[@thenewcedric]

Hello, if I could make a video about something that could help you. What would that be?

[@Streetpfosten]

Success is to be in the *Flow*. Read Csikszentmihalyi, now!

[@zigtausendfach4874]

How do you manage to make these wondrous animations so rapidly? Have you multiple animators? Do not get me wrong, I really like this distinctive paper craft style of the curriculum but all of the sudden you release all these animations more beautiful than TedEd's.

[@hilliuno]

***** That is not really an answer XD

[@CakeForJack]

***** And we love that you do it. I consider this channel a success in philanthropy.

[@UltraGaivalas]

***** have you ever considered to collaborate with Cyriak for one episode? i can barely imagine what the end result would be. perhaps you channel would explode

[@GodDamnit7711]

***** Ah yes. So then my Erich Fromm video should be due in two months time!

[@kalpnasaxena9112]

Where is the reply of +The School of Life

[@fv4425]

This is really beautiful, so short and straight to the point. Well done !

[@chuaTapia]

I want to be successful in my career and my future family... :(

[@bolivar1789]

This lesson is as beautiful as a poem! Thank you so much. Oh, but when Alain speaks so slowly I get a bit worried. I hope he is getting enough sleep:-) I wanted to share these wonderful words by Henry David Thoreau: "“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal - that is your success.”

[@yadavgopal631]

wonderful quote. First time hearing it. Is it from a specific book?

[@bolivar1789]

+Rad Yad Hello there! Thanks a lot for reading. The quote is from Thoreau's book" Walden".But I have heard it for the first time from Maria Popova on the wonderful podcast " On Being with Krista Tippet". I highly recommend you that episode. She has an amazing website called Brain Pickings. I often check that website to find great books. Best wishes!

[@javorgeorgiev6130]

Besides being rich and/or famous,success is subjective to everyone's aspirations.I don't ever want to feel like I've "made it".At least half of my drive to improve will go out in that moment.Life is an ultimately pointless and fun game that I don't ever want to win.That'd mean I've done everything that's really fun already and there's nothing left ,but repetition until I arrive at a dull,anticlimactic ending.

[@austinduran3557]

follow the success that can truly fulfill you

[@Bertoluuuucci]

I would like do see a video about determinism and incompatibilism, because you guys are always talking about "your own identity" and "your own path" as if it has not been condicionated by the environment or by the material/concrete relations of the different realities.

[@kristenhamblin2325]

This was fantastic. The animation was beautiful as well as the point. Thank you so much.

[@kremzupa_69]

A channel of high quality, at last. I'm enjoying everything but the 'student philosopher', which seems to be aimed at male audience, although I might be wrong.

[@kremzupa_69]

Jon Hart Please, consider that she may be reading this. I only meant to say that the content of her videos doesn't speak to me. Let's not bring anyone's looks into this.

[@bolivar1789]

Kremzupa I love Em's videos and I have already learnt a lot from her!! This is an "incredibly MACHO accusation" to say that her lessons are " aimed at male audience". So you think that anything that an intelligent and beautiful woman does, is ultimately aimed to please a man?? What kind of argument is this? I really don't mean to offend you but if I were you, I would delete this comment. So terribly insulting!!!

[@kremzupa_69]

***** Dear Lua Veli, I made no such claims.

[@bolivar1789]

Kremzupa Dear Kremzupa, thank you very much for such kind answer. It almost never happens on youtube. So I really do appreciate it a lot! But you know, that claim inevitably brings to mind, as if Em was chosen as a sexual object in the first place, rather than as someone who is competent and intelligent. I mean you could call that " aimed at male audience" if they hired a porno star in bikini to explain Lacan or sth... Anyway, even though in my humble opinion it sounds very unfortunate, I am glad you say that you did not mean it that way. Have a nice evening!

[@bolivar1789]

Aso Paso Good evening Aso Paso! Come on my friend; this is not open heart surgery:-) In that case you could say that she is a student and therefore not yet authorised to do that. You know, in the residence where I used to live, there were not only music students like me, but also those who were studying medicine, law, physics, history, literature... everything! It was terribly interesting and I have learnt something from every one of them. I see Em like that too: how interesting to have a friend who studies Philosophy in London! Why should we not benefit from her experiences? Besides she is very humble and she is a very good teacher. Transmitting wisdom is not the privilege of those who have a degree. And that degree is no guarantee of wisdom either! I have met a few philosophers here in Germany with their fancy PhD degrees and all.. Arrogant, vain, unbearable folks. You could listen to them for hours and not learn a damn thing frankly. Since most of them are not interested in teaching you anything, but rather in showing off with what they've " memorised".

[@trafo60]

Success = everything that gives you long-term benefits. Pleasure = everything that gives you instant gratification. If you keep pursuing success at the expense of pleasure you ruin your life because you never really enjoy the fruits of your work, and the long-term benefits never come. If you pursue pleasure at the expense of success you ruin your life because while you get happiness in the short run, you fuck up in the long run. That's why Happiness = perfect balance between success and pleasure

[@jacquescousteau9396]

what a great animation and content. thank you school of life for widening my knowledge of the world we live in

[@thephoenix2176]

- Being of your true essence

[@prasadmanic]

didnt really know what success meant.....after watching this video....i must say even more vague than i already was!

[@groenpaardje]

I like how you guy's started using a variety of motion graphic designers, it keeps the content fresh. Some of your latest video's have a real nice aesthetic. I do have to watch some of them twice now because I have to focus my attention on the voice-over or the pretty visuals, but thats ok. Keep on the good work!

[@tedoymisojos]

The animation and sounds in this are beautiful!

[@JediKnight988]

The School of Life should add spirituality to its curriculum. We could really learn a lot about the energies of light and sound.

[@niory]

Really nice .. I wasn't excepting to feel good after watching any success vide but this video proved to be an exception .. The animation of the video was a dream like .... Bravo

[@formidablesloth1806]

I feel like this video is missing about an hour worth of material that it just happened to cut.

[@AmaSharapova]

Such a beautiful animation!

[@braveheartinacowardlyworld6016]

Keep on making videos THE SCHOOL OF LIFE! I am learning more, faster!

[@k.kangsar8305]

This is one of the most important videos I've ever watched! Thank youuuuuuuuu!

[@basicdose.9872]

Thanks school of life. It made a lot of sense . Thanks.

[@nattehyler]

This is such a beautiful video, words and animation combined

[@hermesy.c.9668]

I love this channel

[@vigilant545]

Balm for the eyes and mind. Well done.

[@juanfernandoramirez4360]

This video is so beautifully animated omg

[@kashiwamizu]

This video has to be the first in which the aesthetic value of the video is so incredibly high that it almost distracts me away from the content. Not a bad thing though, makes me watch it twice :D

[@rohithvasudevan735]

Success is Subjective

[@kavishnwin4193]

If anyone knows the answers to these questions please tell me..... What is success? Why we want to success? For whom we want to success? How to measure success?

[@pavel2279]

Massive props to the animators

[@emanalmutawa8564]

thank you for this beautiful video.

[@dannysze8183]

I think success meaning to have a truly fullfilled life either raising a family or climbing rocks. It is a personal pursuit. The society always tries to promote a more material meaning of success like being a billionaire or winning an oscar. The chances are very rare to achineve those goals for ordinary people and if you think it deeper those kind of success does not really matter if you have a miserable life. I am not saying that we all should trash our job and doing something fun, but we should rethink about life in a personal level disregarding how others perceive us.

[@FredHMusic-gr7nu]

inspirational. Being a curious and romantically orientated musician, I can only agree to this video.

[@zhelezov]

You change the world. With a voice like honey.

[@earlgrey2130]

A lovely idea, but i feel that it crashlands when it meets reality. Even tough i myself might think that i'm success because i excel in areas i deem important, everyone else does not think so because they don't care about the little areas i'm successsfull in. And unfortunately it's OTHER peoples opinion that matters. Because THEY provide me with what i would need right now. You know.. things like jobs, like a home, like friendship, love, sex, empathy or even just simple things like money. As long as i'm not successful in THEIR eyes, none of my abilities matter :(

[@SkyFoxTale]

Samurailord You don't need other people's opinions to be successful. As said in the video, it's about finding your own path to fulfillment, an endeavor rather removed from the judgements of others.

[@CakeForJack]

Samurailord Unfortunately, even if we achieve our own personal successes we may still find life hard and feel unsuccessful if we do not succeed in the ways that society consider to be worthwhile successes; having lots of money, a family and an expansive social network of friends and colleagues for example. This is when the concept of self-defined success falls flat, it is a shame that in real life we must 'play the game' that society demands. However, if you know that you must play the game of society - it makes the game easier, and therefore the pursuit of your own successes is easier.

[@ScorchArtist]

+Samurailord Check out this speaker he talks on your issue very profoundly, I think you will get alot of value out of this if you listen www.bing.com/videos/search?q=earl+nightingale+courage&view=detail&mid=E659580707DCDA828307E659580707DCDA828307&FORM=VIRE2

[@6538h]

Your voice calms me, truly beautiful channel, I am a huge fan.

[@piotrlanga9840]

Most beautiful video that i have ever seen.

[@per_ringnes]

my mind eats this up like candy, this is some amazing stuff!

[@LiLoTech]

Success to me is being unchained. So many of us are like horses chained to a pin in the ground going round and round. Typically this is just so we can pay the monthly bills. Imagine if we all lived in little self built habitats (no mortgage or rent). How much more creativity would we see from our population?

[@smilingcrocodile]

the visuals are getting better by the video !! Quite successful content ! ;)

[@d4rksh4dow4]

my success is, if someone angry after see my comment or maybe get some like in my comment yeah, i'm simple man

[@carlogaytan7010]

I think your success is not simply getting a like or getting attention by making someone mad. It's to make a point, to fight back at the absurdity and joke that is Life. Maybe you feel like Society is a joke sometimes, which is understandable. But I think most importantly it is your duty to free other people from their ignorance and fear.

[@PabloArangoAp]

As always ¡Great Job! I love what you do. Thanks a lot

[@dalanium98]

Loving these new videos! This animation style works so well with each idea

[@a.7801]

Visuals are, as always, amazingly made ! Great channel.