Comments on: The Definition of Success

By: pam

pam — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:50:11 +0000

I think being a success is not having others say about me “I don’t know how she can sleep at night”. I sleep very well. Husband and I come from families of decent people who would never deliberately hurt others. That’s how I look at success. Money and fame doesn’t come into it for me. It’s a person’s actions and true motives, what’s in their heart. If they practice a good heart with courage(without being a martyr about it!), then I think to myself “that person is managing their life and emotions successfully” and can live proud and brave, and when their time comes, pass on proudly and bravely also without regrets.

By: Muirin

Muirin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:27:42 +0000

Success to me, was when I knew I did something people were proud of me… I believe I have always lived for someone to say.. Good Job or I’m proud of you. It probably has to do with some child hood issues being in the shadow of the golden child.

When I think about success now, it makes me think of whatever makes me happy. As long as I’m… happy.. Its all I really want in life. To enjoy it.

But even that doesn’t seem like a real definition of my success. Its something I’ll have to ponder in the future.

By: quinncreative

quinncreative — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:20:19 +0000

These answers show a great variety of experience and a lot of invention, exploration and seeking. It’s true that success can be both in the failing and in the learning.

Success as each of us defines it as a reflection of our values–the things we truly care about. When we work in connection to our values, we become successful. When we go after the things that we THINK we should go after rather than what we KNOW resonates, we won’t feel successful no matter what we do. The job your parents thought you should pursue, the one all your friends were doing to get rich quick and retire at 35, the job you stumbled into our of boredom–they won’t make you successful unless they match what you hold as important in your life.

You may have had a job where you made a good salary, but came to understand that the salary didn’t bring you the kind of wealth you want.

You may have had a job that doesn’t pay well, but satisfies you deeply–and then the money seems to reach.

Sure, there are fabulously wealthy people who are also happy. But for each one of us, success lines up with our values. When we do what we think is important, when we make meaning in life, we are successful.

By: Mr Sandman

Mr Sandman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:00:22 +0000

As usual, late to the party, but here goes.

Success is learning from our failures and triumphs, and applying the lessons to the endeavors we undertake after each event in our lives.

Even in the worst situations, the worst relationships, the worst jobs, if there’s something new or a lesson learned we can take away from the debacle, then it was worth it. The same is true for successful situations, relationships, and jobs. Just resting on one’s laurels means we’re not growing and changing.

The ability to grow and change is what life is about. Life itself is change. When we stop changing, we die.

By: Ginny Anderson

Ginny Anderson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:55:12 +0000

The feeling of success is something I feel kicked off in random moments, often taking me by surprise. it’s synonymous with a sense of contentment, sinking into joy of being in the moment. It comes often when I’m standing somewhere where the vista is superb – I feel glad to be alive, glad to experience no pressure to have anything else happen but simply to be grateful for what the moment is bringing. It’s not really about accomplishment. But I’ve felt it also when I’m doing a group of some sort, and i know that the folks I’m working with are inspired by experiencing an open heart that makes you feel like “you” don’t end at the borders of your body, but extend to everything and everyone around you. It may be the end product of an intense preparation I’ve put into creating something – but just as often comes with that total feeling of merging into the moment for no reason I’ve done anything to create, but just having opened my heart.

By: sunny

sunny — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:29:49 +0000

This is something I have struggled with in trying to figure out where my depression stems from. While mine seems to be mainly chemical (stupid brain), I can get down when I start comparing my life to that of my friends. I’ve married and divorced twice. They have been married 18 and 19 years, with kids, seemingly happy. One married an eye doctor, one married a guy who has worked in the family business the whole time. Me, I have to do it all on my own. They are happy and secure with their Chritianity; me, I constantly try to figure out WHAT I believe. LOL But, I do have food, a house, a good family, a good boyfriend, certain amounts of creativity, and people like me. I have had the same job for 20 years. While I’m not where I pictured myself when I graduated high school 20 years ago, if I don’t compare myself to others, I am successful. I have things I want to do in the future, but right now, I’m content. And contentment is success!