One of my favorite questions to ask myself or my clients has been, "How much is enough"? This is an important question when it comes to setting our goals and expectations - about finances, about love, about anything in life.
The parallel question becomes, "What is success"? Because the way we define success tells us a lot about what we think is enough and if we have reached it.
In Midlife, I think the question becomes even more acute, because we begin to wonder if we have accomplished what we came to this life to DO.
Sometimes we forget that we are not human DOINGS but human BEINGS.
Who we are becoming is far more important - the process is really all it is about.
No Failures I once heard that the only failure in life is the inability to learn from our mistakes.
And, I have come to truly know that people who haven't experienced failure of some kind or another in life, have truly never lived! You probably have heard the story that Edison found 99 ways NOT to create the electric light bulb before he found the way that worked.
His example of perseverance is as outstanding as the light he brought to our world! Massive Rejection Mark Victor Hansen, when talking about all the rejections that he and Jack Canfield got when attempting to publish Chicken Soup for the Soul, discovered that each rejection was just a step closer to the goal.
And they learned to graciously say, 'Next' until an unknown publisher agreed to give them a chance.
Millions of sales later, and no one would call what they did a failure.
It sure didn't look like what most people would call 'success' when the 100th rejection letter arrived.
A Personal Note When my dad died, I was given the privilege of doing his memorial service at the grave site.
And, it was challenging at first - because I've heard so many eulogies that talk about the major accomplishments of the deceased.
My father was a simple man.
He was uneducated; He didn't hold down a job for very long - although he always provided for us.
In the eyes of the world, he wasn't very successful.
He left a legacy of love in his family.
I'd call that success! What's your definition?
The parallel question becomes, "What is success"? Because the way we define success tells us a lot about what we think is enough and if we have reached it.
In Midlife, I think the question becomes even more acute, because we begin to wonder if we have accomplished what we came to this life to DO.
Sometimes we forget that we are not human DOINGS but human BEINGS.
Who we are becoming is far more important - the process is really all it is about.
No Failures I once heard that the only failure in life is the inability to learn from our mistakes.
And, I have come to truly know that people who haven't experienced failure of some kind or another in life, have truly never lived! You probably have heard the story that Edison found 99 ways NOT to create the electric light bulb before he found the way that worked.
His example of perseverance is as outstanding as the light he brought to our world! Massive Rejection Mark Victor Hansen, when talking about all the rejections that he and Jack Canfield got when attempting to publish Chicken Soup for the Soul, discovered that each rejection was just a step closer to the goal.
And they learned to graciously say, 'Next' until an unknown publisher agreed to give them a chance.
Millions of sales later, and no one would call what they did a failure.
It sure didn't look like what most people would call 'success' when the 100th rejection letter arrived.
A Personal Note When my dad died, I was given the privilege of doing his memorial service at the grave site.
And, it was challenging at first - because I've heard so many eulogies that talk about the major accomplishments of the deceased.
My father was a simple man.
He was uneducated; He didn't hold down a job for very long - although he always provided for us.
In the eyes of the world, he wasn't very successful.
He left a legacy of love in his family.
I'd call that success! What's your definition?
Source...