Success. It’s something we all want. It’s something we all strive for. And sometimes, we even find ourselves measuring our self-worth by it. But how do we define such an elusive, intangible idea? I took a leadership class in high school, and our teacher asked us that very question. It was a pretty lofty question to ask a bunch of high schoolers who were just starting to figure out the world and their place in it. Still, we all took a stab at answering it, and the variety of answers was quite eye-opening. Some talked about accomplishing goals, some talked about becoming CEO of a huge corporation and some talked about making the varsity football team.
So, by the time the teacher asked me for my definition, I was a little scared to read what I’d scribbled on my piece of paper. I gulped and read it aloud: “To me, success means trying your best whether you reach your goal or not.”
I was sort of embarrassed at the time, but the more I think about it, that’s what success means to me. Yes, it would be nice if we achieved every single goal we have in mind, but we can’t discount the journey along the way, can we? Failing doesn’t mean we really failed, does it? If we “put up a good fight,” as the old saying goes, I say we’ve succeeded. We should never sell ourselves short when we should be celebrating.
Now it’s your turn, friends: How would you define success? Has your definition changed over the years? Why do you think it’s changed? What factors helped you arrive at your definition? Do you think said definition will change in the future? xoxo[Photos via We Heart It]
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Lens & anything Else says
Love the first picture!
Lena at A Crimson Kiss says
What a wonderful (and certainly tough to answer) question! I think success is most easily defined by some metric (won, got the job, made the money), but those things rarely make you feel as satisfied as you'd hope they would. Success to me is doing something meaningful and doing that well.
Regine Karpel says
Well put Lena At A Crimson Kiss!
Monique Bellavia says
I absolutely agree! It's hard to really see how the journey is the real successe,s but all you learn on the way is so important. It's what makes anything worth doing. Love this post.
Blue Eyed Night Owl says
I'd probably say succes is a place where you don't have to worry(as much at least). Whether that's about money, accomplishments or something else doesn't really matter, as long as you're at peace.
Little Laura says
Reaching goals is nice, but then what?
Success to me is living in a state of contentment, no matter the circumstances.
For example, we have a project list a mile long for our house. We've been in it for about a year and a half. It's taking forever and I get really discouraged. That and the fact that I have a very, very active toddler. My house seems to constantly look like a frat party took place the night before.
But instead of looking at what I don't have finished, I can be happy with what I do have. I can be content with my home and my little family (which is quite awesome).