The Art of Enjoying Success

Summary

The article "The Art of Enjoying Success" emphasizes recognizing personal achievements and defining success based on personal fulfillment and happiness rather than material wealth.

Abstract

The essay discusses the importance of appreciating one's own success, which often goes unnoticed due to a narrow or materialistic definition of success. It suggests that success can be found in achieving personal goals, such as being a successful writer on Medium, and receiving validation from one's audience. The author argues that success is not about owning luxury items like mansions, Ferraris, or yachts, but rather about the satisfaction derived from creating meaningful work, having food and shelter, loving relationships, good health, and the ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures. The author considers themselves successful because they have these fundamental aspects in life, which they value more than excessive wealth. The article encourages readers to redefine success in terms of what they have and can enjoy, rather than focusing on what they lack, and to take pleasure in the journey of writing and sharing their work on Medium.

Opinions

Success is a self-fulfilling concept that depends on individual definitions and achievements.
Material possessions like expensive cars and homes are not true indicators of success but rather the byproducts of excessive success.
Personal fulfillment, good health, loving relationships, and the ability to pursue one's interests are more accurate measures of a successful life.
Writers on Medium, regardless of their income level, should consider themselves successful if they are creating work that resonates with an audience and brings them personal satisfaction.
The true enjoyment of success comes from recognizing and being grateful for what one has, rather than fixating on what one does not possess.
Medium serves as a platform that democratizes writing success, allowing writers to achieve fulfillment without the need for immense wealth.

Go for it

Photograph by Emmy E on Pexels.

Sometimes in life we are so busy chasing success that we don't realise that we already have it. That is because we don't recognise the success that we have. For example, if you're dream is to be a successful writer and you write about that dream right here on Medium, then that becomes what you might call a self-fulfilling dream of success. It all depends on how you define success.

Is success is having your work professionally published on a global platform and getting paid for it? Is it getting feedback and approval from your readers? Is it gaining a growing readership? Is it getting a sense of fulfilment at having created something which finds an appreciative audience? Is it being able to stand back and admire what you have created and giving yourself a pat on the back? Is it something which has art, respect and value in the eyes of others and something of which you can be justifiably proud? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you success.

Ah yes I hear you say, but where's my mansion, my Ferrari, my yacht, my multiple ostentatious homes dotted around the globe. Well I'm sorry to disappoint you my friends, but that is not is success. That is the plenitudinous spoils of an excess of success.

Personally I consider myself a very successful person indeed, and not just for the writing I do. I have food and shelter in abundance. I have the love of a good woman. I get up in the morning, eternally grateful that I am reasonably fit and well, well enough to indulge myself in pretty much whatever activity takes my fancy (one or two are on temporary hold due to circumstances beyond my control). I always manage to overcome whatever obstacles life throws at me, including more curveballs than you could shake a stick at. At the end of the day I sit back and reflect a little at my life, past present and future and thank the lord, or whoever takes your fancy, that I bravely fought my battles and come out of it ok.

Yes an exotic sports car, a bigger house with a swimming pool and a small boat would be nice, but my life and my definition of success does not depend on it. And I am not the only one. There are many writers here on Medium, the big hitters like Tim Denning etc, who don't have the level of success that commands a ginormous salary and enough disposable income to fund the purchase of a luxury super yacht in Cannes. Yet I am absolutely certain that those self same people would consider themselves as very successful indeed. And I am equally sure that they enjoy that success for what it is.

The money I make here on Medium may not be enough to buy a Ferrari, but it will fund something which means far more to me than any supercar such as a nice meal out with a glass of red wine with my lovely wife. That my friends is what I call success. In fact, the more I think about it, maybe the crowning achievement of Medium is the democratisation of success in writing.

My takeaway from this is that as an habitual writer here, just like me, you already are successful. See it for what it is and enjoy it for what it is. Think of, and be grateful for, what you have got and do not lament what you haven't. Above all, enjoy the ride, because there is no joy to be attained in vainly pursuing that which, for the time being at least, is beyond your reach.