by Rebekah Gresens

Created on: April 05, 2009

The dictionary defines success as: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose, the attainment of fame, wealth, or social status, a favorable or desired outcome.

So what then is true success? One of the first things to realize is that success has a different meaning for everyone as it is always dependent on the person and their perspective. However, I believe that the core of success is happiness. It does not matter if you are the CEO of a huge company or a janitor. If you are happy with what you have accomplished and where you are at, then you have attained the success you have been seeking.

What if I don't feel that I'm successful? Success is in the eye of the beholder. So if you don't feel that you are successful it is because of what your mindset is. The good news is that you can change that right now. Here is one example: I spent a period of time in a business that produced little to no results for the time and efforts that I had placed into it. Now some people that I talked to felt that the whole time I invested in this business was just a complete and utter failure. However, when I would look at it I could see the countless things I learned from and grew from as a result of my experiences. Therefore, I felt that yes, I had lost the time and money I invested; but no, I did not fail. I succeeded in other ways that were not necessarily the external results that everyone was looking for.

When the question arises as to whether or not you have been successful in an endeavour it is based in one of the following two catergories:

What personal success is based on:

1. Your perspective (As a man thinketh so is he. Do you think you are a success or a failure? Only you can determine whether or not you are a success.)

2. Happiness/Contentment (Are you happy with your life? Do you feel content with what you have set out to do?)

What personal success should not be based on:

1. A comparison to what others have accomplished as opposed to what you haven't accomplished

2. External results (ie. how much money you have or haven't made, etc.)

3. What others are thinking of you (honestly, does it really matter in the long run? Are they living your life? Can they determine what makes you happy or not?)

4. Discontentment/Unhappiness (Discontentment stems from thinking too much of what has happened in the past or what will happen in the future. Be in the present, be in the moment and take it one step at a time.)

What makes an individual successful? You can be successful each and every day of your life if you choose to be so. One more important thing to remember is that to be successful doesn't mean that you are living in or out of your comfort zone. It just means that you are doing, being, and becoming the person you want to be.

Learn more about this author, Rebekah Gresens.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.