November is a time for reflection. As the year slowly approaches its end, we re-evaluate our priorities. We ask ourselves whether this has been a successful year for us. But how do we define success? The concept of what success should look like changes over time. The Swiss-born British philosopher Alain de Botton gives an amusing description of the requirements of high status in ancient societies. In Sparta, in 400BC, the pinnacle of success and high social status belonged to “fighting, aggressive men with large muscles, a vigorous (bi)sexual appetite, little interest in family life, a distaste for business and luxury, and an enthusiasm for killing, especially Athenians, on the battlefield”. Five centuries after the birth of Christ, Europe passed through a phase of religiosity when leading a holy life was the hallmark of success. Leading a saintly life meant never taking up arms to fight others, shunning material goods, not owning property and fasting regularly was what made saints the symbols of success in early Christianity. St Francis of Assisi claimed he was married to ‘Lady Poverty’. I wonder what would happen to anyone today making such a claim. At the beginning of the...