Written by
Sweet Beets - IMD
Right off, who can be SOOO bold as to try and define SUCCESS?
I suppose that technically, defining success isn't that hard. A google query landed its AI to present:
Success is the accomplishment of a desired goal, a favorable outcome, or the attainment of wealth, status, and fame. Beyond these traditional definitions, it is deeply personal and subjective, often encompassing emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and a strong work-life balance.
I have maintained for years that REAL success is finding joy in what we do. Now, being SUCCESSFUL can most certainly be quantified in any capacity in which we may desire. Hitting a goal, completing a project, landing a job, getting a promotion at work..... These are all great examples of being SUCCESSFUL.
In my word study, it occurred to me that I have been morphing "SUCCESS" it into something else. Stating that SUCCESS is finding joy in what we do, isn't really SUCCESS at all; rather, finding joy in what we do is the epitome of HAPPINESS! Tell me, what better to be successful at than happiness?
We see millions upon millions of people who have attained THAT high paying job, earned THAT promotion, acquired wealth, power or fame. By all rights, they attained SUCCESS.....but what did it get many of them?
Drug addiction, depression, loneliness? How much of these ailments are born from the pursuit of this idea of "success"?
As simple as it may seem, achieving HAPPINESS is elusive for many. And even then, like our journey, we get to define exactly what HAPPINESS is!
In my many revolutions around the sun, I have observed plenty. Some seem to be burdened with HAPPINESS repellent. Some flirt with HAPPINESS, and some seem to own it.
Those who own it seem to be protected by it.
I truly feel for those who struggle to know happiness. True happiness isn't contingent upon a achieving a goal, an accolade, or any measurement of fame. True happiness seems rooted in the acceptance of self and others.
The more I ramble, the more I realize that I just morphed another concept.....or did I?
Perhaps the measure of real happiness can only be found in LOVE, and that can only complicate it more. I found that one's relationship with LOVE can be very different from person to person. Since love is largely abstract; defining it has become rather personal for some.
Maybe there is too much fuss on words anyway. We have the power to declare beliefs. We may all use words to describe who we are or who we wish to be. But really, do the words really matter in the long run? Do we really remember what people say, or what they do?
Crawling out of my loop of pyschobabble, I am left with a few thoughts.
When we work to change our relationship with success, love and happiness, life changes.
When we choose to love and forgive ourselves for our imperfections, when we adopt love and strive for improvement....when we do these things, we will find our way to success; and when we find that, we are truly free to love, forgive and be happy!
WTF does this have to do with music? Join me next week!
With more love than can be contained,
DC
