@tymeI'm pretty much on par with @RiverSeal 's description. Good, meaningful relationships; a household where I belong; and good, meaningful work are the big three markers for me.
A loving, dedicated marriage is particularly crucial. I can't see my life being satisfactory (or 'recovered') without one.
I really like @RiverSeal 's comment about being your authentic self, as this is a crucial detail, too. It may be fairly easy to superficially attain all the fixtures of a successful life if you act out a role that is starkly differant to yourself. If you say and do the "right" things, you might get a spouse, a group of so-called "friends" hang out with, and even a job. But if every word out of your mouth is a lie... if the work you do makes the world an uglier place... if the spouse and "friends" who constantly hang around are lamentable burdens you'd love to be rid of, then how is that a victory?
This was a major point of contention during my therapy. I was embedded in some toxic relationships, so-called friendships, at the time. The more I managed to avoid these people, the less miserable my life got; but it also meant that my level of social interaction dwindled, since these were the only relationships I had.
My therapist didn't like that, so she pressured me to be more accommodating of these relationships, so as to raise my level of social interaction. This became an increasingly miserable exercise, and many of those encounters were absolute nightmares. Massive toll on my mental health. But my therapist was delighted, because each ordeal increased my amount of social interaction. This was the only measure she cared about.
So, yeah... relationships, work, a role in the community - none of them are any good unless they are things you can take on and succeed in as your authentic self. If everything in your life is a lie and/or a pretense... well, how can there be any goodness in that?
