When Success Makes Us Forget Who Helped Us

To what extent are we truly the architects of our own success? How much do we owe to our parents, family, and friends—and how much is shaped by forces beyond our control?

As Moses prepares to part from the children of Israel on the far side of the Jordan, he voices a deep concern: the spiritual dangers of prosperity. Affluence, he warns, can breed arrogance.

“When you have eaten your fill and built fine houses… and your silver and gold have increased, beware lest your heart grow haughty and you forget your G-d.” Moses cautions against the dangerous refrain: “My own power has won this wealth for me.”

He foresees a timeless truth: success often tempts us to forget those who paved the way. Arrogance is the exaggeration  of our own importance and achievements, while humility is a clear-eyed assessment of self—one that naturally fosters gratitude.

King Solomon teaches that happiness belongs to the humble. Only when we recognize the role others have played in our lives can we truly feel gratitude—and in gratitude, find lasting joy.

As the sage observed: “It is not how much we have that makes us happy, but how much we appreciate what we have.” Nowhere is this more true than in our relationships with friends and family.

Practical Reflection: Take ten minutes each day to recall the ways others have enriched your life. Appreciation is the antidote to arrogance - and cultivates true happiness.