What Is the Definition of Success? Maybe It’s Not What You Think After All

Do you worry you’ve not made it and your life’s not enough?

Do you ever worry you’ve not made it? You’ve got this far, yet, you probably haven’t fulfilled all your goals. Maybe, you haven’t even gotten close. Then again, it’s possible you made your dreams come true, but you still feel empty. As though you’re not successful enough.

It was clear success was all about accolades, wealth, and social status when I was a kid. Evidence was everywhere. People gained rewards and were admired if they hit the mark. If they had money, a flash car, a professional job title, and a huge driveway up to their enormous house, they’d cracked it.

My evidence of true success, however, was flawed. I was already happy, even though we were poor when I was young. Heck, I was born with a smile on my face. It’s in my nature to find hidden gems in every event, and my sunny disposition got me through setbacks with relative ease.

The idea that success was all about material wealth and shows of posterity stuck in my brain, though. But, I chose not to reach for it and rejected it instead. I would be unsuccessful and continue as I was because it felt good.

It was only in later life I recognized I’d always been successful after all. I always had it made because I was content most of the time, learned from my mistakes and attracted love. Even when love didn’t appear on the outside of my life, I felt it inside where it counts and was never lonely. Now that’s success.

If you have someone to laugh with and share life’s ups and downs, that’s success too. If you feel inspired by the beauty of nature and let it seep into your bones, that’s also success. Make a positive contribution to the world, and you’ve also made it.

At some point, I don’t recall exactly when; I realized the expensive material goods people reach for mean nothing apart from the emotions these objects evoke. What people want isn’t a super-duper car and house, gold, and the latest of everything.

They want qualities and emotional rewards like acceptance, admiration, joy, freedom, and love. And you can have these things with or without money. They aren’t related.

Occasionally, I’ve been a little successful by accident. Life throws you highs and lows, no matter what you do. Also, if you are passionate about something, you put your heart and soul into it and become skilled. Rewards arrive if you continue to do what you love and are best at doing.

Real accomplishment, though, isn’t about shows of superiority. You can have them, but their existence doesn’t show your success.

Bridget Webber writes articles for magazines and websites; she often ghostwrites for professionals who can’t spare the time to pen compositions. She’s written poetry eBooks and is featured in several leading publications.