When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
No one comes to mind really because success is a loaded word that is hard to define.
You can be rich, successful, and unhappy. You can be poor as a church mouse, appreciate everything you do have, and be blissfully happy.
Okay poverty does lead to struggle, but it’s no more sensible to say that those who have money are immune from unhappiness, and those who have little are immune from happiness.
For me personally, happiness is the key. I would deeply appreciate millions but it wouldn’t be right without happiness and good health, and without them I wouldn’t feel successful.
Mindset is everything
To me successful is a mindset. We know from what we’ve seen in life that there are people who don’t seem capable of appreciating what they have.
They become successful but their life is a mess. They’re never happy. Think of the talented, beautiful and successful Whitney Houston. For some reason she couldn’t cope with the success. Maybe partly because she didn’t trust that anyone liked and love her more than her fame. I’m only guessing here, but we know that has happened to the well-known, a load of hangers on and when the going gets tough the hangers fall off.
If you have the right mindset you will find ways to be happy in your life, rich or poor, famous or unknown. If you don’t you won’t.
Let’s consider the right mindset…
- A predisposition to happiness.
- Optimistic and enquiring.
- Excited by life. Enthusiastic to try things.
- The strength to take a step back when something goes wrong, recognise it as a phase, work out what needs doing and move forward.
- Simplicity. If you need a lot to be happy it’s harder, if you can be grateful for the simple things of life happiness becomes easier. Doesn’t matter how much money you have, the ability to appreciate even the smallest things lifts your energy and helps you move forward.
I’m sure you can think of more things. It might be a good idea to come up with a list yourself to focus on when you need reminding.
So no particular person comes to mind, but the image represents the people who have a dream, go out there, and chase that dream down (or up in this case).
Whether they climb mountains, play a sport, invent new things, fly to the moon, they are heroes worth noting because they inspire others to follow their passion and dreams.
That’s who I think of when I need to be reminded to keep moving forward. I may not have written anything successful yet, but it doesn’t mean I can’t, and won’t.
Best love
Amorah – Deb
Deb Hawken - Amorah 