I am currently reading a book by the philosopher, A C Grayling, which is prompting me to think about we mean by ‘success’, in the general sense.
For each of us, ‘success’ tends to be linked to our hopes and dreams. But there are probably some objective general criteria for ‘success’, too – as Grayling says, ‘He was wise indeed who first noted that endeavour counts just as much as outcomes’. The sense of this statement can be felt in the thought that the feeling of ‘success’ is usually temporary and it fades as we look to new horizons: the American western frontier novelist Louis L’Amour’s ‘far blue mountains’. As the truism goes, ‘success’ IS probably more about the journey than the destination. And each one of us gaining a sense of what really matters, hopefully long before we expire.
Success isn’t
Mountains of money, mansions and cost-a-lot cars, and luxury things like diamond rings. Or celebrity. Or holding the most power and enjoying the certainty of fools. Or winning, at large cost to others. Or ignoring the needy who are both right next to us and further away.
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Success is
The journey: the efforts we make, and keep making, to do the right thing. A heart full of random and deliberate acts of kindness. Commitments made, and always kept.
Everything we do for everyone else – especially the needy, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. Fighting for just causes. Speaking the truth, especially when speaking is hard.
Having enough, and being happy with that. Enjoying good physical and mental health. Enjoying both our work and our leisure time. Enjoying the simple beauties of the moment. Smiling a lot, and laughing at the dropped hat. High-quality personal relationships; giving love, and being loved.
And spending much time in humble reflection.
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