What is Success?
What is success? That either seems like a very easy question to answer, or one that requires you to really think about it (maybe there is even conflict in your life surrounding the idea of success). I’ve had a number of conversations with people recently that really center around this idea of success. They have worked so hard to reach a certain level, but there are certain very important elements in their lives that are missing (time with family, working for a cause, making a difference, etc.). For some, it is engrained in us from childhood as we are told what is expected of us and how it should be. Maybe we were taught to think a certain way about those that do not fit the typical mold for success, which can lead to judgment (i.e., “that job will never pay the bills” – have you heard that one before?). For others, it is something we learn to define for ourselves once we get to the point of not caring what others think. Why is it that some of us feel we have to fit a particular mold? For those of you that have never felt that way… my hat is off to you! I personally struggled to get to the point I am now – when I began defining what success is to me.
So what is it that we are supposed to be doing? Are we to just follow what was prescribed for us? Are we supposed to fit into one of the finite number of molds of success that we were presented with growing up? I used to think that way. I was very career-oriented, raised to be an over-achiever, and to drive hard for what I wanted (or thought I wanted). Even when I reached my goals and grew leaps and bounds, it was not nearly as fulfilling as I thought it would be. What if what I thought was success actually wasn’t? Well, that turned my life completely upside down… in a very good way! I believe there are an infinite number of ways for individuals to achieve success, and I believe that it is unique to each person.
Why do we feel like we have to fight everything, like everything is meant to be a struggle – is that one of the defining characteristics of success? What if we began to allow instead? There is a certain amount of peace that can come with that. It opens our hearts and minds to seeing the blessings that reside all around us, which we often begin to miss when we are stuck in the day-to-day rat race. It does not mean that we just allow things to happen, like a delicate little wallflower that gets trampled on. It simply means working with the flow instead of going against it. So, if your idea of success is in the process of changing, why fight it? Why not strap in and go along for the ride? We do not need to curse or label the journey (i.e., this is horrible, this doesn’t matter, that could never work, etc.). We’ve already shot ourselves in the foot before we even start the race if we approach life in that way. Sometimes we cling to the old because it is familiar and “safe.” But, the world is constantly changing around us, which means that we are likely changing, too (just at our own pace and in unique and beautiful ways that are suited for us). We can see this change as opportunity, as an answer to our prayers, as what we have been striving for. Maybe it looks different than what we thought it might look like. So what? Everything is a lesson, an experience, something that we can use to improve our lives – maybe that’s success… for me… What is success for you? No matter what it means for you, I wish you much joy in your pursuit of success, and send you Love, Light & Hugs in support of you.