What is important to a happy or successful life as in what makes it happy or successful?

Materialistic possessions will have a temporary effect of pleasure. They will then need to be satisfied again and again. To avoid feeling hollow at the end of your life you must spend time with those you love and surround yourself with people who's company you enjoy. A happy life does not have one important element. It is a balance of interests. Where material accumulation may sometimes benefit in the short run they will strip you of your identity and confuse you in the long run. Be comortable and secure, not flashy and insecure.