What is success to you?

[Blue Sparks]

What kind of characteristics, traits, values, goals or achievements do you strive for that, according to your own philosophy about success, you would be satisfied with yourself and feel successful in your own eyes?

There's no right or wrong answer to this question, I am curious to find out what is important to others and what kind of goals other people have.

[OptimistPrime]

My two overarching goals in life can each be summed up in two words. "Be yourself", and "Be patient". They're two sides of the same coin, inasmuch as I use the first to guide my action, and I use the latter to guide my inaction. I strive to make as many decisions as possible based on how I feel about them, intuitively/bodily. ("Be yourself.") When none of the options I can think of feel right, then I just relax and wait for an opportunity or an inspiration to come along that does. ("Be patient.")

That's pretty much it.

[ZephyrusX]

I suppose success would be staying true to my values in all aspects of my life. I'm still working on what my values are, but usually the following is pretty consistent:

Power (defined more in terms of self-responsibility and personal agency rather than power over others)
Authenticity
Understanding or insight
Fairness
Gratitude

[MariconesUnited]

Being true to myself and following my heart and my intuition no matter the consequences.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Blue Sparks

What kind of characteristics, traits, values, goals or achievements do you strive for that, according to your own philosophy about success, you would be satisfied with yourself and feel successful in your own eyes?

Happy family; career success; good health; plenty of money; a lifestyle with time and resources to explore my personal interests and hobbies to great lengths. I also like to help people to succeed with their own aspirations.

[elucidate]

Being true to myself and having Integrity every step of the way. If that means taking the road less travelled then that's what I will do. Listening to my inner tuition and not seeking too much external validation.

Personal Power.

All the little things...like being able to make rockin' polenta muffins and a mean lamb roast with all the trimmings. I think success in the little things is just as valid as any mainstream concept of what success is. Anything you are really good at in other words. Appreciating these little ways in which we are successful helps me to appreciate myself more and develop self-esteem.

For me, success is having taught myself to be an artist, and tapped into my innate creativity without a university education.

[tomtomtom]

Short term its usually when i wake up after being blacked out and am in my bed....long term it would be hanging out with hott celebs like jennifer anniston

[jbsmith]

Same as they have been for the last 10-years, continue to improve self-confidence and courage to think, act and behave in line with my fundamental beliefs and passions.

Never 100%, but 80% is much better than the 20-30% I used to reach a decade ago.

Jeff

[Beingist]

The attainment of pure Being.

[MariconesUnited]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Happy family; career success; good health; plenty of money; a lifestyle with time and resources to explore my personal interests and hobbies to great lengths. I also like to help people to succeed with their own aspirations.

I definitely get that vibe coming from you. It's no wonder you're so appreciated in here

[ZephyrusX]

This is sort of how I see it too though I would approach this more by saying that I want gratitude to be one of the foundations of my life. Even if I've just cooked a nice meal for my family, I'd like the presence of mind to be able to sit there and really enjoy the moment as opposed to being too preoccupied with other things to really take it in. I think I am going to miss small things like that more so than anything else.

Still, there are other 'big' things I'd like to do, like travel the world, manage a library branch or department, may be go to law school later in my life.

Originally Posted by elucidate

All the little things...like being able to make rockin' polenta muffins and a mean lamb roast with all the trimmings. I think success in the little things is just as valid as any mainstream concept of what success is.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

This is sort of how I see it too though I would approach this more by saying that I want gratitude to be one of the foundations of my life. Even if I've just cooked a nice meal for my family, I'd like the presence of mind to be able to sit there and really enjoy the moment as opposed to being too preoccupied with other things to really take it in. I think I am going to miss small things like that more so than anything else.

That sounds like a successful dining experience.

I'm really into savouring every bite of food, and used to be right into obtaining prana from food by taking my time to break it right down into mush for digestion. People eat too fast. I'm one of the slowest eaters you'll ever meet. Seriously, people will be finished and ready to leave the restaurant and I will still be half way through my meal.

Still, there are other 'big' things I'd like to do, like travel the world, manage a library branch or department, may be go to law school later in my life.

Yes, I have similar aspirations...minus Law school. Although I have a strong sense of justice, i just don't think I could be around lawyers that much. I'm sure they're not all lying so and so's that care more about winning than justice...

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Blue Sparks

What kind of characteristics, traits, values, goals or achievements do you strive for
I am curious to find out what is important to others and
what kind of goals other people have.

My achievements have changed somewhat according to
the Context:
1. When I was a teenager, my idea of Heaven-on-earth:
Nurturing & Nourishing & Guiding at least 8 kiddies.

Because my husband turned-out to be a pedophile ,
I had but one precious child;
as I never trusted another man, until my present Sweetie.

2. When I was in nursing-school, I wanted to become
a 'Pediatric Heart-transplant surgeon'; until I learned,
that
a HEART can more often than not, actually HEAL...
(meaning no one else's heart is necessary). - How GREAT was this awareness.

3. Having always lived an active... life (Soul, & Mind, & Body),
some doctors (God forbid!) decided to hand me a death-sentence,
(not once but 4-times): what idiots! - So
after 'middle-'age (how do they decide that ),
I donned Iceskates for my 1st. time, & now see little Gold medals,
even as I'm still in Basic-classes. As my Coach said:
"Since you are dreaming it, you can most definitely BECOME it..." I am chomping at the bit!

[Matthew Cluff]

For me, the characteristics, traits, values, goals or achievements I would strive for are:

• Productivity
• Excellent Quality Work
• Professionalism
• Helpfulness
• Living In My Dream House / Having All My Dream Possessions
• Financially Free
• Having A Good Social Network
• Constant Happiness
• Having A Solid Long-Term Plan For Where I Want To Go And Then Making This Vision Come True
• Publicity / Being Known World-Wide For What I Do
• Fulfills Promises
• Being Someone That Others People Respect Deeply

Really good thread, I think. Really makes you think of the idealistic kind of life you'd want and not just regarding material possession goals or experiences. Good stuff!

[JoeDRL]

For me, attaining success is reaching my goals while staying in the limits of morality.

Because anybody can make money by stealing people, that's is not success in my opinion.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by JoeDRL

For me, attaining success
is reaching my goals while staying in the limits of morality.

Because anybody can make money by stealing people, that's is not success in my opinion.

Good! - so stay FAR away from medical professions,
as they not only steal, & destroy people's life,
they will bankrupt those very same people in the process.

How do I know? - I worked in it for 37 awful yrs.. -
You have to do ALOT of reframing, to prevent yourself
from getting caught-up in their destructive mindset.

[markkdepp]

Satisfaction of life is success to me. If my heart is not permitting to accept something which is not proper. That mean this is not success. When I woke up in the morning there should not a single goal remaining for me.

[JoeDRL]

Originally Posted by sk8joyful

Good! - so stay FAR away from medical professions,
as they not only steal, & destroy people's life,
they will bankrupt those very same people in the process.

How do I know? - I worked in it for 37 awful yrs.. -
You have to do ALOT of reframing, to prevent yourself
from getting caught-up in their destructive mindset.

Can you explain a little bit further your affirmation?
I mean, are you really encouraged to take advantage of people?
Also, do you think this is global or it works only in your country (because I'll study as a physiotherapist, is it the same in Canada?)

You just hooked my curiosity

[nothuman]

This is easy. Learning how to love more deeply and having fun along the way. Oh and a wide screen TV hahahaha.

[Maya2066]

Being able to live according to your deepest values. Having a sense of peace and happiness every day. That's invaluable!

[Bode O]

I believe Success means one being happy, strong, healthy, wealthy and fulfilled.

[lifeforce]

Originally Posted by Blue Sparks

What kind of characteristics, traits, values, goals or achievements do you strive for that, according to your own philosophy about success, you would be satisfied with yourself and feel successful in your own eyes?

There's no right or wrong answer to this question, I am curious to find out what is important to others and what kind of goals other people have.

I chose to define being successful as being alive. Setting the bar so low, I cant help but feel good about myself.

Though in reality, I really resonated with a quote from earl nightingale: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal".