Pursuit of Success - Could I Be on the Wrong Path?

We all like to have a nice car, fashionable clothes, a great income and a gorgeous home, but is achieving these things the measurement of “success”?

I’ve been watching Celebrity Sober House. It’s a television show where addicted stars live together in order to practice sober living. One of the celebrities shared that she doesn’t know how to live sober because for as long as she can remember, she has never been sober. She was a model who had achieved a certain amount of modelling success, but the environment she was in, combined with having a mother who was an addict, opened the way for her addiction. When modelling tapered off she became an expensive escort in order to continue to live financially at the level she was accustom to. Similarly, another addict in the house sold her body in pornographic events in order to maintain what her mind described as "success" - a high priced apartment and nice car. In both situations there was a high personal price to pay.

Is there a connection between these addicts and a "workaholic" who is success driven at his job?

Some people are hard working to support their families. They work hard for good reason, but are not workaholics unless their work exceeds the need, and to the detriment of their family or their body.

If one is a workaholic merely because he is looking to fill a constant gaping hole he has labelled "success", he will be sorely disappointed.

When your definition of success is what you wear, where you live, what you drive, what you drink or smoke, or who you party with, is success ever achievable? We all know, just as soon as the “latest” comes out, “newer” is right behind it.

Should the pursuit of “things” and “image” be life’s goal?

Deep beneath it all, sometimes buried, is the “real” you. You are heart, mind and soul. "The Message", says it this way, "What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

People make materialistic pursuits their goal because they haven’t carved out more virtuous goals. Maybe they had role models in life they and know no different. Maybe they are driven by underlying pain they are trying to run from.

The problem with "worldly" goals is that they are temporary. Things wear out, spoil, get moth-eaten, rust and go out of fashion. It takes a tremendous amount of income to acquire, maintain, operate and upgrade all these “things”. And we soon become bored with them.
SO WHAT IS SUCCESS?

What is your idea of success? As a life coach it certainly isn’t my job to define what success means to you. I would like to challenge you, however, to consider some deeper issues:

Have you examined what is truly important to the “real” you inside?
Do you know what personal integrity means? Do you value it?
Do you value yourself enough to protect your own soul?
Have you examined what you believe about God, morals, values and how to treat your fellow man?
Is your mind worth protecting from the clutter advertisers throw at you?
Are your relationships more important than “things” or money?
Have you experienced joy, peace or contentment lately?
How often do you feel thankful?
Could success mean achieving a level of contentment?
Could editing your life and priority list make your more successful?
Could success mean finding out what you were put on earth to do for the greater good of man?
Have you evaluated why you do what you do?

I’d be happy to hear feedback about how the idea of “success” has been formed in your mind and what your definition is.

Your definition of "success" can be tweeked or re-written with the help of a Life Coach.
Copyright, All Rights Reserved - Rosalie Garde