Defining Success

*Sourced

Everyone is looking for success in life but what is it?  What parameters are we using to define success in our lives?  If our success levels are based on external appearances then we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and defeat!

Success is not necessarily the destination; it is equally about the bumpy journey!  Learning to remain stable amidst crisis and chaos; to smile after a twenty-hour workday, to continue to give love despite someone’s jealousy, to be able to forgive those who criticize you, are all successes for a person on a spiritual journey.

The road to success is not necessarily one that is paved with gold.  Hardship and penance can sometimes be equally worth the ride.  It’s the small tests that we have to pass and the little things we need to do that bring smiles and miles in the relationship.  Sometimes we wait for big events to come along so that we can express our sentiments, but in fact there is no moment like the present.  Win the moment!  Win the heart in front of you right now!

Therefore success is not about arriving at a destination, but making the most of life on all levels at every moment.  If we are unable to live the moment, we will always be living in the future…”When I graduate… When I get my first car… When I buy my first house…” These thoughts actually perpetuate a lack in the soul and a pattern is indented whereby I will not be satisfied until I have met the goal (and perhaps also created another one to urge me on!)

Be successful in this moment, with those around you.  Otherwise you may eventually look back on your life of goals attained and targets achieved, but wonder why you didn’t have a happy life or enjoy fulfilling, loving, caring relationships.

At the end of the day, we won’t be remembered by those we love for our paper qualifications or our material attainments – we’ll be remembered for how much we loved, cared and made a difference to their lives.

Learning to be patient, tolerant, more loving, kind and caring are the little successes we need to master in our lives even though we may come across as a ‘failure’ in the eyes of others.  The ego lives off worldly successes, such as physical power, possessions, prestige, pennies, position and pay, as that is the measure of success in worldly terms.  But now we need to create a new league of our own, one of total self-respect – this takes humility.

It’s time… to review how you rate your success – is it based on spiritual terms or physical terms?  Take out time to study for a ‘master’s’ degree in the area of soul development – knowing that whatever work I do on my soul will go with me eternally.  Don’t chase after the temporary as then you will surely be deceived when you next look at your soul bank balance!