A definition of success that I have held for many years is: "success is the progressive realization of a lifetime goal or dream". Sometimes I substitute the word "worthy" for "lifetime" but the emphasis here is that success is more defined by "progressive" than anything....Success is the act of moving toward your goal. When I reflect that any goal is achieve one step at a time I take inspiration in the fact that a step forward is achievement and many small achievements lead to the ultimate success. Today it seems the idea of success is defined by media "glitz" and visability. Being center stage and the messiah of the next pop culture idiom is actually a false idol and a trap that, unfortunately, many kids fall into. Our current state of idol worship is a reflection of our seach for ourselves and our desire to be thought of as worthy or worthwhile. And yet, it is the very people who shun the media spotlight who are the most worthy. Think of some of the examples of the people you hold in highest esteem and they will not be those in the spotlight, onthe center stage, in front of the cameras or followed by the papparatzi. They will be those quiet souls toiling in some giving profession.....in the name of love or like or kindness. Think about success, about making progress but don't fall victim to the false promise of celebrity or idolatry.
1 comment:
As a society we are addicted to this concept of success as some external form of validation we all crave. At the same time we all know intuitively that success cannot be nor is rarely an over-night happening. Measuring our progress as steps towards successfully reaching our goal is a manifestation of taking pleasure in the process rather than the end result. On occasion there exist some lucky souls for whom success appears easy and effortless, those who do not have to monitor their progress incrementally in inches. However, these “lucky” ones miss out on something more subtle as witnessed in the exquisite unfolding and final blossoming of the flower. Its progress at unfolding is invisible to the eye but once apparent, we are awed at its magnificence. Often in dance class, I have observed that some people learn quickly but remain mediocre; others learn more slowly but well and then dazzle. Maybe it is the very act of having to try so hard that makes us – the slow learners, dedicated as we are to reach our goal, to ultimately attain excellence. Having said that, the Madonna wannabe in me still has the desire to be the one spinning spectacularly to the center of the dance floor till the end.
Post a Comment