What is success?
Most people have a tendency to wrap the definition of success around their finances. Unfortunately, if they do not have an abundance financially, they may consider themselves “unsuccessful”.
But does success have to do totally with how much money you have in your bank account?
The Collins Gage Canadian Dictionary defines success as:
1. a favourable result,
2. the gaining of wealth, position, etc.,
3. a person or thing that succeeds,
4. result, fortune
You see, success is not defined solely as wealth!
So, now that you know success, in one definition is “a favourable result”, go back through your life to times when your outcomes brought the results you wanted. Start counting. There are certainly many times coming to mind, right? Do you have a roof over your head? Meals to eat? Clothes to wear? Good friends? Some great family? These are all favourable results.
See, we are so much more successful then we are willing to give ourselves credit for. Oftentimes, even with all our great abilities, we have a tendency to downplay our own successes. For whatever reason, we tend to want to compare ourselves to others, and often those others, are people who appear to have something that we may not.
If you honestly go within yourself and evaluate your beliefs and values, I am sure that you will find that you have been extremely successful up to this point in your life. Certainly you would have encountered some failures along the way, but that is what this life’s learning journey is all about. It is often our mistakes that turn out to be our greatest teachers!
Throughout the years, I have attended many conferences and seminars dealing with topics on self improvement. I have met several enthusiastic, wonderful people from all over the world. I have found one thing that many of these people have in common, amazingly enough, they discredit their own successes. It appears to be human nature, and I too am guilty, of underestimating all the great achievements we have had, or still are having, in our life, then jotting that down to success. It would feel a true accomplishment in knowing, that as you read this article, you will have discovered much more greatness within yourself then you have previously given yourself credit for.
When you sit down and go over all that you have accomplished in your life, give yourself a pat on the back each time. When you add everything together and discover how successful you have really been, truly reward yourself. Remember when doing this, to keep your values at the top of the list. Do not compare yourself to anyone else. The neighbour who may appear to have it all, may not have a lot of things that you personally value in life. If he has a beautiful home with a four car garage and a brand new vehicle to drive, he may not have a great relationship with his family, or something else that you would hold very high on your success list.
Most importantly, as you evaluate these great successes you have had, be grateful. Gratitude will certainly bring about more success in your life.
Thank you and have a great day!
Word count: 537