Life experience matters #lovemylifenow
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read Morei used to be an idealist.
/To me, being successful means...
being healthy, having friends and family, and making time to do what you enjoy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
well, ironically enough, i realize the importance of financial stability. not to say money=success. but, y'know.
Point me toward tomorrow...Won't forget what I did for LOVE.
/To me, being successful means...
being grateful for every new day and the relationships with my friends and family.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I put more emphasis on relational success vs. material success.
You're Not What You Do
/To me, being successful means...
Living your life with passion and not taking it for granted. Being able to love and be loved. Having compassion for yourself and others. Trying to make the world a better place.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Absolutely. For years --starting in elementary school and extending past graduate school – I defined success based on academic and professional accomplishments. My parents were very achievement oriented and put a lot of pressure on us to excel starting at a very young age. But it never felt like enough. In college, I became very depressed. I felt like I had been jumping through hoops my whole life, and I was exhausted. I didn’t even know what actually made me happy. After an episode of major depression, I decided to pursue the things that gave me pleasure instead of what other people told me I should do. I feel very lucky to have found a career I love, one where I can help people every day, be creative, feel intellectually satisfied, and explore the world. I feel even luckier to have found my soul mate in my late 30s. The joy I derive from my day-to-day life, and my ability to give back, are what make me feel successful.
I feel like I'm living a fairy tale.
/To me, being successful means...
being happy, feeling accomplished, and staying afloat.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreGo with the flow, but choose the right current
/To me, being successful means...
I believe that success is defined as being happy with all aspects of your life. In order to do that, one must work hard to achieve that success. For me to be happy, I want to work at a job that I look forward to going to everyday and that pays well. That means I will need to get a college degree and make myself marketable. Success and happiness are intrinsically linked. I do not believe that you can be truly successful without being happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I always thought growing up that success was all about having a lot of money and living in a big house but that perception changed once I moved out of Palo Alto and went off to college. I also was grown up thinking in high school that if you don't go to an Ivy League school, you will be a failure in life. That perception really changed when I graduated from [high school name omitted].
Find your park
/To me, being successful means...
Finding your own version of happiness. Balancing commitments to work, family, and self without giving too much of oneself to any one thing.
My definition of success has and has not changed over time.
Yes and no. I think I've felt that feeling good about the work that I do and the contribution I make is important; it's just the focus of my work has changed. Creating a happy family and home life has been paramount and more than work, that is the success that I get most joy from.
I love Palo Alto, but take it with a grain of salt.
/To me, being successful means...
...that I'm comfortable in my own skin and don't need to adhere to my parents' or family members' definition of what is successful. It's not all about money, career, or status; it's about what's interesting or comfortable to me on the timeline that I choose.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In high school I was taught (by my parents) that money and status are the key to happiness. You're successful? Then you have a big house (that you own) and drive a BMW/Audi/Tesla/etc. to show others that you are important. It was about where you went to school, what your degree is, what your job title is, whether or not your parents stayed together, and making sure that everyone around you knew all of those things. Because of that, I currently rarely "talk shop." I hate it. I don't want to be defined by where I went to school, what my major was, or what my job title is. Success to me is being able to build friendships, sustain jobs (no matter the title), have interests outside of work (whatever they may be), etc., so that you aren't limited to being defined by any one thing.
Practice happiness and gratitude and the rest will fall into place.
/To me, being successful means...
Sharing my life with a kind loving companion, children and grandchildren. Living simply so I don't have to worry about the mortgage or bills. Being able help those that I love in little ways. Being able to travel at least once a year. Feeling useful and content but not stressed with my work. Being happy with myself and being consciously grateful for all the blessings that I have experienced so far.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreSingle dad of a teenager juggling career, music, and fatherhood
/To me, being successful means...
Coming from an environment that puts a high value on traditional ideas of financial/professional success, I've realized that there are many paths to, and many definitions of success. For me, success is being able to take care of your family, if you choose to have one, and living within your means, whatever they are.
My definition of success has changed over time.
"stuff" is less important to me
I'm finally enjoying the journey.
/To me, being successful means...
Having meaningful relationships with friends and family. Having enough money to live a decent life. Knowing yourself well enough that you can be honest with yourself and others about your strengths and weaknesses.
My definition of success has changed over time.
The college you go to does not determine how your life will go.
Finding satisfaction as a stay-home mom
/To me, being successful means...
Love of family! THE most important thing. Being satisfied with "enough" - not worrying about excess. Someone once told me to value "People, Places and lastly THINGS" - in that order. People: friends and family. Places: home, places you've visited. Things: don't matter as much as we think they do at the time. Does NOT mean money and power.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreA Circuitous Route
/To me, being successful means...
Living a fulfilled, balanced life where I make a difference.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was in high school, I thought I had to do what was expected, in the right order, and on schedule to be successful. Now, thirty-ish years later, I know that the fact that I took a different path (put myself through college, graduated in my early thirties) means that I have a true understanding of what's important. I value that journey.
Constantly growing
/To me, being successful means...
Making mistakes and learning from them. Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Learned to not worry about what others think
Average student
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy with yourself
My definition of success has changed over time.
Money does not solve all your problems
Follow Where He Leads
/To me, being successful means...
. . . following the Lord Jesus Christ in all that I say and do.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be worldly success and now it means following Christ.
I loved my high school experience
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
I think it's relaxed a lot over the years. Gotten more inclusive and simpler
Breaking Outside the Bubble
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy and feeling accomplished
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to believe that to be successful was to have the best grades. Now its just feeling happy with yourself.
Balancing achievement with the rest of your life
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy with yourself, and contributing to the community around you. Finding a way to balance your life so that you have time for all the things you find important.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Through college, I thought top grades and achievement meant success. I thought that graduate degrees meant success. It wasn't until after college when I took time off before graduate school that I realized that spending time with friends, doing fun activities, and being away from achievement-oriented things brought me more joy than school did.
Harmony17
/To me, being successful means...
Being self aware and kind to those around you and yourself. Do the best you can do in each phase of your life. Understand that you will make mistakes--everyone does--and somehow, it all works out right eventually.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was a [high school name omitted] student, I thought that grades, getting into a great school, having a lot of friends and an active social life was success. Then after I graduated from a great university and earned my law degree, I thought success meant landing a lucrative position in a prestigious law firm and making a lot of money. Now, I think that success means to be the best "you." It may sound like a cliche, but each person is unique and valuable and there is no one else like you. Know this and embrace this. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't be so preoccupied about what people think about you. It's none of your business. Only care about what you think of yourself. Life your life and treat people in such a way that you can respect yourself without regrets.
