Success is a gift you give yourself

We live in a society of speed. Everything is in a "now" mentality. We get dinner from a drive through, we e-mail instead of phoning, we do everything we can to get more done in the same amount of time. The result is not that we are accomplishing any more, or doing anything any better: We simply do it faster. Why are we so consumed with achieving more? Why must we set our standards at this level? In my opinion, we need to achieve so much more because we are not achieving anything of substance that gjves us any kind of gratification. We have no sense of success. We, as individuals are failing ourselves.

Success is such a trivial word. To one person it means that they have climbed Mt. Everest, or run the Boston Marathon. To another it means they are a mother, and to yet another it may mean that they finally got the promotion they wanted. If you look at the people around you that are truly happy, you will find something they all have in common. In their own minds, they have achieved a certain level of success. They have defeated the odds and won. People that cannot find satisfaction in their lives have usually failed to acknowledge any of their triumphs. They have failed to see what great they have done. It is difficult sometimes for people to understand that what matters for greatness is within you, not what other people perceive you as. Here is an example:

I personally was running a start up advertising company. I was flying all over the country, meeting great people, and making great money. My name was known in the payroll industry (our clients) and I was very highly thought of. To most everyone I had it all. I was on top of the world. To me, I was lonely and unhappy. My kids were suffering because of my career, and my love life was non-existent. That was until I met Bill, who I ended up marrying. My family doubled in size (he had two kids also) and my career path took a very sharp turn. I went from the advertising community to running a hypnosis business with my husband. Money is tight, and traveling is not really an option right now, but I have never been happier. This is the definition of success to me; Creating a life that works for you instead of working to create a life.

Take stock in what matters most to you. Look around and decide what you can do that would make you feel like you have done something that mattered. Decide what would make you happy to achieve and then do it. Don't set your standards where your friends and family think you should be, set them where YOU think you should be.

Nikki Gladwell, Hypnotist
www.bill-nikki.com