Defining Success for Ourselves

Filed Under Authenticity, Joyous Living, Success | 2 Comments

I want to be successful.  When I say that aloud…or write it for the whole world to see, I start to feel a little nauseous.  It seems to have such a negative connotation for me.  But it is the truth – I do want to be successful…just not in the way I think we typically think of success.  And, therein lies the rub.  Defining success.  My mini-Webster’s defines success as 1) a favorable result.  So far, so good.  Yep.  I’m all for favorable results.  The second definition is where I get tripped up – the gaining of wealth, fame, etc.  Not that I don’t want a bit of wealth and a bit of fame, but the idea that “success” is primarily viewed as this second definition.  And because this bothers me so much (like when my sister sniped at me while we were struggling with our parents’ estate – “you just want to be rich!” – oh, yuck!), I’ve been doing some soul searching…yes, I do want to be successful…but what does that MEAN?  One of the most complete definitions for me is: success is loving being myself.  Particularly after a lifetime of self-doubt and recrimination, loving being me, with all my flaws, being able to rejoice in who I am, really is success.  I’m wondering how other people are looking at success nowadays… 

There were some interesting posts at: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-education/mentoring/CAR_MEN/77541-3243289 if you’re curious or want some “priming of the pump.”

If the majority of people really took a look at what success meant to them would more of us feel successful?  And if more of us felt successful, how might our world change?  Having looked at my own "redefinition of success" I know I feel more successful and much of my world seems to be responding to the shift.  I like it!