Everybody wants two things in life. The first is to be happy. The second is to be successful. Sometimes people think that those two things are the exact same. Well, not to be harsh but they aren't. They can go hand in hand but they aren't the same. For example, you can be successful but not happy with your life. On the other hand, you can be happy and truly believe that you are successful. The latter can be a thin line when you're talking about a difference between the two. But there is a third category. That category is you can be happy in your life but you may not be as successful as you truly want to be. This final category is the most difficult. Naturally, people are greedy. You already have one thing, say a phone, but a better one comes out that does the exact same thing as the one you have but it isn't the new one. Well, in this case, does it make you more successful to have the new phone? Or are you just relying on somebody else's opinion of your success? Is there any real way to know if you're being successful in your life?
At first, I thought this article would be a list of ways you could tell if you're successful. But then I realized that success has an entirely different meaning to every single person reading this. I fall under the final category for the time being. I'm a college student who is happy with her life yet I know there is something bigger out there and I can't wait to find it once I graduate. I complicate that even more by believing I have been successful, so far. On top of that, you may be in a different category than me or any of your other friends. So really, how do you know? With so many different definitions and understandings of "being successful," it can be difficult to truly define it yourself and know whether or not you think you're successful. Well, here is a small list anyway with questions that show how you can judge whether or not you believe you're being successful, not what society defines as successful.
1. Are you happy with your life?
Do you think changes need to be made in order to make you a happier person? This can be the first step to success. It's also a reality check of whether or not you're going in the direction that you want to be.
2. Are you where you want to be in life?
Everyone has that five-year plan that they hope to follow. Somewhere along the road, we all get off track and have distractions. So if you're where you want to be in life right at this moment, congratulations.
3. Are you surrounded by people that are open and honest with you?
I know we all want those people who build you up to be around all the time and we don't want to hear that we aren't doing well or that we've failed. But, everyone needs at least one of those people. The people who tear you down shouldn't outnumber those who build you up, but you should consider what everyone says, even if it isn't what you want to hear.
4. Are you in a place that allows you to grow as a person and to learn new things?
This sounds a lot like No. 2, but it isn't. This particular question is asking if you're still able to learn and be humbled by disappointment. It's asking if you're still able to act like a child and ask for help.
Success doesn't always mean you're the CEO of a company. It can mean that as a person, you've grown enough where you're able to realize how you're doing in life. You're able to ask for help without being upset about it. You're able to handle people tearing you down because you know it will make you better. You may not agree with these four questions, but it should make you redefine what successful means to you.
