Your Purpose and Your Success
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and is himself destroyed or lost?
~~ Matthew 9:25
~~ Matthew 9:25
I will make the statement that everyone wants to be successful in some form or another. Or would you prefer me to say, most want to be successful? In any case, millions are driven, possessed and preoccupied with the passion for "success". They would sacrifice anything to be seen or accepted as "successful". Keep in mind, success in today's society and world is usually defined by the superficial rewards glorified in the media, such as: wealth, power, fame, luxury, prestige and recognition.
Focus Point: If a young man has a positive sense of direction that encompasses his whole life, not just his professional career or bankbook, and if he understands why he wants what he wants; his accomplishments may give him genuine satisfaction, making him a success in his own eyes. Now, if however, he does not have this clarity of purpose, and especially if he has been struggling to live up to someone else's definition of success, whether it's a parent, spouse or perhaps the society in which he lives; he is likely to reach the top of his professional career but wonder why he feels so dissatisfied and burned out. In the end he may realize that his identity as an individual has been compromised by the forces pushing him to attain a career stardom. He finally realizes that he has become trapped by the pressure to get ahead at any cost, and his life is out of balance. Keep in mind, there are millions, like executives who are striving day in and day out after a prize they despise, to accomplish a goal they personally hate. If you have a problem accepting this, read up on Wall Street.
Focus Point: Keep in mind that we as a society, have confused success with fulfillment, accomplishment and satisfaction; and achievement with peace. I truly believe it is essential for you and I to search beyond the wonderful things material success can purchase and see the heavy price it can extract.
Focus Point: There is a time when you must ask the questions of why you are so driven to succeed and why you made the choices that you have made and sacrifices that have shaped your private and professional life up to this point in your life.
I would like to mention that only a few of us ever stop and develop a personal and meaningful definition of success that allows us to thrive as well as strive. Instead, we absorb a composite image, largely a superficial illusion from the media, parental demands and peer pressure. What I am saying in essence is this: success in our culture and society requires becoming what everyone else tells you what we should be. And, I may add, it is assumed almost as an afterthought, that success by this world's standards will magically include happiness, but this formula leaves little room for genuine personal fulfillment.
Focus Point: Keep in mind, success has very little to do with what you accumulate, possess or achieve. It has even less to do with other people's opinions and their assessment of you and your accomplishments. Success in essence, can only be defined by your purpose in this life and by your obedience to your assignment.
Focus Point: If a young man has a positive sense of direction that encompasses his whole life, not just his professional career or bankbook, and if he understands why he wants what he wants; his accomplishments may give him genuine satisfaction, making him a success in his own eyes. Now, if however, he does not have this clarity of purpose, and especially if he has been struggling to live up to someone else's definition of success, whether it's a parent, spouse or perhaps the society in which he lives; he is likely to reach the top of his professional career but wonder why he feels so dissatisfied and burned out. In the end he may realize that his identity as an individual has been compromised by the forces pushing him to attain a career stardom. He finally realizes that he has become trapped by the pressure to get ahead at any cost, and his life is out of balance. Keep in mind, there are millions, like executives who are striving day in and day out after a prize they despise, to accomplish a goal they personally hate. If you have a problem accepting this, read up on Wall Street.
Focus Point: Keep in mind that we as a society, have confused success with fulfillment, accomplishment and satisfaction; and achievement with peace. I truly believe it is essential for you and I to search beyond the wonderful things material success can purchase and see the heavy price it can extract.
Focus Point: There is a time when you must ask the questions of why you are so driven to succeed and why you made the choices that you have made and sacrifices that have shaped your private and professional life up to this point in your life.
I would like to mention that only a few of us ever stop and develop a personal and meaningful definition of success that allows us to thrive as well as strive. Instead, we absorb a composite image, largely a superficial illusion from the media, parental demands and peer pressure. What I am saying in essence is this: success in our culture and society requires becoming what everyone else tells you what we should be. And, I may add, it is assumed almost as an afterthought, that success by this world's standards will magically include happiness, but this formula leaves little room for genuine personal fulfillment.
Focus Point: Keep in mind, success has very little to do with what you accumulate, possess or achieve. It has even less to do with other people's opinions and their assessment of you and your accomplishments. Success in essence, can only be defined by your purpose in this life and by your obedience to your assignment.
We have confused success with fulfillment,
accomplishment with satisfaction, and
achievement with peace...
which isn't the Truth.
accomplishment with satisfaction, and
achievement with peace...
which isn't the Truth.
