Today the market is flooded with thousands of books that tell us how to succeed in life. Success is defined by different people in different ways. For someit is making millions of rupees or dollars. For some others it is gaining power, position and reputation. A student may aspire to get a university rank and would work hard to achieve that success. For yet few others it is fame that matters. We are ready to spend hours together or years together for the fulfillment of a dream. Most of the time people talk about success, they mean financial success. Others succeed academically. We also need to succeed spiritually, mentally, and emotionally so that it can lead us to a fruitful and meaningful life of happiness.
Whatever competition we have, it fills us with some thrill as bonus. And the thought you are winning all the way is real morale booster and fun unlimited. It can work wonders inside you as a great motivator of life. And yet at the end of the day we may ask ourselves a question as to: Why am I trying to achieve these things? It is because we set our own standards for success based on certain parameters like what our neighbor has achieved etc. and we want to be the winner anyway, surpassing all goal posts!
Great authors bring forth before us the key elements of the unconventional principles that helped them in real life to become one among the world’s most successful people. Such firsthand experiences have always thrilled millions of readers all over the globe and it is shared by millions worldwide. These books guide us how to set our life goals, learn and resurrect ourselves when we slip into mistakes. These books equip us to sharpen our faculties and make best use of the environment, collaborating and working in tandem with others to produce excellent and exceptional results. In short it will teach us to achieve success in having a meaningful life that we all want to have.
Majority of these books as I have mentioned earlier want to relate success to money making. The world’s millionaires are hardly a 5 percent of the world population. They were once upon a time very ordinary people some of them with no much education. But still with their perseverance and hard work they could reach the top rung of list of millionaires, and what more they are all self made people, they did menial jobs, either sold newspapers or were street hawkers.
They have acquired great status undreamt of when they started. There are millions of books out there written almost in any known language of the world, just because success is paramount in the lives of any human being. There are books written on personality development, success mantras, books promoting career growth, how to maintain health and longevity , motivational and inspirational tips, wealth and money management, investment techniques, success in spiritual growth etc. Most of the books take you through the life experiences and the lessons they teach us what are those practices and secrets behind successful people; what it takes for you to be happy; and make you realize your strengths; your passion; your dreams?
With all these books to help man has not made any significant progress in attaining everlasting satisfaction and only few could achieve their dreams. There is an absolute gap between the goal setting process and making them into a reality. In the corner of your heart a thought still lurks that you have not gained anything worthwhile.
Never ending thirst for success.
I happened to know an individual who is immensely rich. He made a lot of money in the 1980 period in the share market. He made six beautiful villas some on tourist destinations spending a whale of lot of money. After 25 years of a gap I happened to meet him in an airport. He was narrating about the success he could make and the tremendous wealth he could amass. But during his talk he was revealing that he is still dissatisfied with things and wants to make still more money. He was lastly talking about buying a property in Dehra Dun.
May be this has something to do with his perceived rank in the world among the millionaires! Maybe he thinks someone else out there is the best! “There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind” opines Deepak Chopra
Are you obsessed for that fulfillment?
Your success becomes more meaningful when that is lined to some greater benefits to humanity as a whole. The success of Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma are definitely more fulfilling because of its worldwide impact of their action and life. “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world” says Roy Bennet.
You have been bestowed with some wonderful capabilities with which you can make wonderful contributions to this world, Look at Mother Theresa’s example. What makes her life memorable is the stark realities she faced and how she fought out to bring some solace to numerous sick and deserted people in Calcutta streets. Her success is to be adjudged not so much by the fame she achieved in the process; her greatness is revealed in facing those hardships and sacrifice she made while trying to make her endeavors successful. Bessie Anderson’s poem tells it all more eloquently than ever:
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.”
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish American steel giant who became extremely wealthy through his domination in the industry. After selling his steel corporation, he gave away $350 million in the last 18 years of his life. Probably he found a meaning in life only when he turned himself to philanthropy. Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader who grew up in Washington, with a supportive family who encouraged his interest in computers at an early age. He dropped out of college to start the world legend called ‘Microsoft’. According to Forbes, he was the richest man in the world from 1995 to 2007. His net worth was once estimated at $76.8 billion. He has in later years of his success focused on philanthropy, giving away a large chunk of his personal fortune through the world famous Gates Foundation. It was his greatest realization that becoming the richest man on earth is just nothing. You need to think about charity and should be in a position for spreading sunshine. Then alone the life gets its true meaning.
Success mindset
It was Franklin Roosevelt who said Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. Intellectual curiosity and risk taking attitude are critical components of success. It is those people like Bill Gates who could wake up to the reality that you need to breed new ideas and the determination to try out things in your own way. Curiosity involves also in observing others, learning new things and a willingness to experiment new things.
One has to be open to new ideas all the time and then alone it will offer the opportunity to learn, experiment and grow. Shunning off from new ideas and walking cautiously on the well treaded path cannot bring any outstanding results. Your inability to question established assumptions about things will limit your growth and success. Be inquisitive and strong enough to pave your own path; abandon age old concepts , beliefs and the worn out strategies that aren’t no more working.“If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all” says Anna Quindlen.
Spiritual success
Whatever kind of success we acquire true bondage and connection with the Lord is the only thing that will stabilize us in the shifting tides of anxiety and worry encircling around us. As the trials and tribulations come into our life, we can rely on the revelation and experience of the love of Almighty to provide stability to the soul as inward strength and courage to face this world. When we fix our eyes on God and seek transformation we find a joy that transcends into our families and all those dear to us. When we are determined to seek the God, we become well equipped to learn from Him, become like Him, and do such wonderful works just the way he intends. This is what Andrew Carnegie, Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Gates and mother Theresa tell us.
Bring yourself to that ecstasy and be connected truly to God invoke him in all your glory and be in dialogue with God. Surrender and begin to trust in our heavenly Father, who knows what true success is, the definition of true love, and our best interest at heart. He is going to guide you as to your actions in the true fulfillment of joy in your life. “Spending time with God is the key to our strength and success in all areas of life. Be sure that you never try to work God into your schedule, but always work your schedule around Him” says Joyce Meyer, the charismatic American Christian author and speaker.
Success in money terms is so inadequate. You need peace and harmony in the family, abundance of love and happiness, and leading a life full of values.
Being in unison with Almighty God he would reveal to you your purpose and destination in life. He will guide you as to what to do and what not .God alone can create that awareness of purpose for which you have been created.
Jose Vazhuthanapilly, BSc., LLB, DBM, CAIIB Retired in 2008 as AGM from State Bank of India. He had worked as a visiting faculty in the Bank’s Staff Training Centers for 5 years. He is a writer with 22 books to his credit including books on self-help/ psychology. He resides in Ernakulam, Kochi. He is active also in social service. He can be contacted at josevazhuthanapilly@gmail.com
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