Success - On Who's Terms?

by Roy
(Seattle)

Some people "fail in life" because they listen too much to what other people consider failure to be.

Holding yourself to the wrong set of ideals (ie; other than your own or those you care about) defines failure from success and can cause you to be more depressed about your current state than perhaps you should be.

Some also fail in life because they lack such self analysis, so it's a two way street - either comparing yourself in unhelpful ways, or not taking into consideration wether you are doing well or not.

Take this successful advice to heart: failure or success should be in relation to your own goals, and your goals should be based on your beliefs.

• If you believe that the environment is the most important thing to you then working at a recycling plant could be considered quite a success, if you're effective.
  
  
• If you believe that success is only measured with dollars then a recycling plant worker probably doesn't make enough to be considered successful on such terms.
  

Writers are an interesting example, because the most successful writers seem to so often be such pathetic failures, living most of their lives alone, falling into severe alcoholism, and from the pain and torment comes some of the most beautiful literature.

My successful advice - the bottom-line:

• Success in my opinion should only come from your own decisions as to what success is.
  
  
• If you know what you're beliefs are and strive to achieve goals in line with them, you are successful - even if you don't achieve these goals, because working towards something worthwhile almost always has it's own rewards, such as inspiring others and setting a good example for children.