HOW DO WE DEFINE SUCCESS?
In today's world success is all about being the biggest and the best. Usually we define success by how someone performs in their chosen career or in a pursuit they endeavour to excel in. I don't think that's really what true success is all about. Maybe it's time to redefine the term - and I like how Barbara J Burrows goes about it.
1. That woman is a success who loves life and lives it to the fullest
Forget about who earns the most, or who has reached the top of the food chain, success is discovering a life you love and getting on with the process of living it abundantly. If you hate something in your life, don't let it drag you down - do something about it and get on with creating a life you love living every day.
2. Who has discovered and shared the strengths and talents that are uniquely her own
We all have strengths and talents - you may not be the best singer or dancer (I'm certainly not!), you may not be the CEO of a company, you may not be the best mum, or the best sister, or the best friend in the world, but we all have qualities that we are proud of - we need to bring them to the fore and share them - and maybe work on a few of the others that could do with some improvement.
3. Who puts her best into each task and leaves each situation better than she found it
I get so tired of people who do as little as possible and expect great results. I hate it when someone does a half-arsed job and then expects to be praised. I think the "I ran in a race" awards that are given to kids these days just breed this "mediocre will do" mentality. Put yourself out, lift your game, serve with a generous heart and know you did your best.
4. Who seeks and finds that which is beautiful in all people and all things
The world is full of critics. Everyone has an opinion and a lot of those opinions are unkind and unhelpful. Don't add to the misery in the world - be the encourager, be the cheer leader, be the person who others turn to for a smile and a kind word. It costs nothing to build people up and to be optimistic - and it makes a huge difference to those we come in contact with every day.
5. Whose heart is full of love and warm with compassion
Warm fuzziness is not my go-to response, I'm a bit of a cynic and a realist. But what I've come to see lately is that people need warmth and compassion when they are going through a tough time. Sometimes I just want to shout "enough already!" when someone goes on and on about their latest misery. But those people (the light suckers as I refer to them - told you I was a cynic at heart) are often desperately in need of a little love and warmth - we just need to find the balance in giving to them and not letting them suck us dry.
6. Who has found joy in living and peace within herself
This is the crux of it isn't it? Knowing who you are and being at peace with that. Finding joy in our daily lives and sharing that joy with others. Knowing you've done all you can to be the best person you can be - and accepting your flaws in the process. None of us is perfect - success isn't about perfection - it's about being at peace with ourselves, loving our less-than-perfectness and sharing love and acceptance with those we meet. If everyone aimed for that type of success the world would be a lovely place to live in wouldn't it?
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Whose heart is full of love and compassion. Boy, do we need more of that in the U.S. these days.
ReplyDeleteCArol
I think we could do with a little bit more love and compassion world wide Carol!
DeleteOh how I love these.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the other day how tremendously my personal definition of success has shifted over the past decade.
Maybe it's a midlife thing Carla - where we open our eyes to what is really important in life - and these things tick a lot of those boxes.
DeleteThese are great measures of success. A heart full of love and compassion is sadly hard to come by these days.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be lovely if it was truly how the world today measured success Lois?
DeleteEvery. One. Of. These!!! Loved this, Leanne!
ReplyDeleteThanks Di - I found them tucked away in my memory box and they touched my heart - so I had to share them.
DeleteThis is terrific! SO true. In my business not a week goes by without someone telling me how I could be more successful! How we all measure success is relative even in business. No I am not going to ever become the top on Forbes list but I help my customers everyday and have a relationship with my customers that to me is the definition of business success.
ReplyDeleteRelationship is definitely what it's all about Haralee - you can be the most financially successful person around but be poor in your people skills and in your compassion- not my idea of success at all.
DeleteI love this blog! Thank you for sharing Barbara Burrow's beautiful list!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Ellen - I take that as high praise :)
DeleteAbsolutely positively LOVE this!
ReplyDeleteIt's so heartfelt isn't it Monica - it just resonated with me.
DeleteAs I wander into and through midlife, I need clear rules of measure 'cuz, damn, this time of life can get confusing.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Beth - and I think we need to make sure that we're measuring with the right rod - because I don't want to leave a legacy that doesn't reflect a lot of these things.
DeleteYay I'm a success then :-)
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous that you can lay claim to these wholeheartedly Janet - that is success indeed!
DeleteI think if we all start adding love and compassion as our mantra, the world will be a better place.
ReplyDeleteMe too Rebecca - it's a shame that I don't see it happening in the near future!
DeleteI agree with each one. Here and around the world though women are going to need strength to fight for what they believe in. Some things are not negotiable.
ReplyDeleteIt really comes down to women to make the difference at a heartfelt level doesn't it Tam?
DeleteI've almost got there. I'm still struggling with finding inner peace. It comes from being brought up in a large family with many siblings to contend with and my overthinking and over-analysing brain that works overtime. I'm getting there though!
ReplyDeleteI can tick some of them too Kathy - I think it's good when we can see our strengths, but to also know there are areas still left to work on.
DeleteLove and agree with these tenets for success!
ReplyDeleteEstelle
Thanks so much Estelle - they're a good benchmark to aim for aren't they?
DeleteThat is a perfect list! I am almost there with most of them but I also suffer from a cynicism that I struggle to control! It does help if I remember to see through people's poor behaviour to the troubled person underneath (me included at times) and remember that negative life experiences can make people sad, mad or bad. Lovely article thank you.
ReplyDeleteCynicism is fairly high on my list of things to work on too Gilly - it's so easy to fall into that mindset, but giving people the benefit of the doubt is probably a better way to approach life :)
Deletesuch a beautiful quote Leanne. It says it all really. I like all the pints but leaving something better than she found it is how I would like to see myself.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a better definition of success then any I have heard before. Often people sacrifice time with loved ones for a job or career only to be rewarded with a retirement cake and a kick out the door. This list puts value in what really matter. Love this
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