I know that being successful means different things to different people.

Another question, Is it still possible to be successful in today's world?

Being successful to me is teaching my children about the love of Christ. Hopefully they will never let it go.

Yes it is possible to be successful at teaching them that in today's world.

There can be many forms of success. I suppose one version, that would probably include most people is to be married and have some children and have a happy, loving home, a good sized house to live in, and enough money to live comfortably. Success for some people can be accomplishing some goals in life, such as making their first million dollars(that would be nice!),to fly solo around the world in a balloon or whatever, or to be president of the U.S.
Right now for a lot of people would be just having a good job, being able to make their house payments and not lose it, and be able to look to the future with hope that everything is going to be alright.

Yes it means different things to different people. I could only answer that as a mother who never worked outside the home.

I guess another thing that I would consider being successful would be to take care of my body physically as much as I can. That has always been important to me. Only in the last 7 years have I gotten better at it.

To me success is overcoming obstacles more than it is the gaining of something.

Awhile back I wrote something in my notebook to the effect - why do you lament all your wasted life instead of looking at it as what helped you to learn and see what you know today.

Brent

..."why do you lament all your wasted life instead of looking at it as what helped you to learn and see what you know today".


I fully agree with your statement.

I believe a person who truly lives and experiences both the positives and negatives in life... is
blessed(especially the negatives and mistakes one makes)because if a person "chooses" to look for
the positive aspect of all experiences...it can
cause a much greater depth of understanding and compassion for others...including "one's self"!

"This is a sucessful life to me"!

I have found this is possible if I take my mistakes, tragedies, and disappointments in life
and view them as a positive learning process in life's journey;
although the positive aspect may not be clearly visible at the time. In some instances, maybe not
for a long time.

I do not write these words lightly...they come from deep within having experienced plenty of
negativity, disappointments and made countless mistakes.

______________________________

On the light side of this subject:

http://www.aniboom.com/animation-video/340034/The-lemonade-factory/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbOYhEWhOPk

Oxy

Bee Kind

Many people measure success by the numbers to the left of the decimal point. While these numbers cannot buy everything, they certainly smooth some rough places.

I have learned to measure success by the satisfaction I feel at the end of a day, having spent it doing something worthwhile. It was late in life when I discovered that I was not cut out to be a wage slave. Now, I am not denigrating those that work for someone else. I worked for many years at many different jobs in many different fields never finding any real satisfaction in any of it. After taking a serious look at my life, I made a decision to reinvent myself. When the opportunity came along to open my own business, I took the plunge.

I now find that I am the worst boss I have ever worked for. The hours are long and stressful. The paperwork is never ending. Cash flow is the cause of semi-permanent insomnia. Yet, I love it. When a customer thanks me for excellent service and a job well done, it makes it all worthwhile. I wouldn't recommend this for everyone but at the end of a long, hard day, I am satisfied.

OS, some good thoughts and observations. It's interesting to read all the different perspectives on being successful.

I likewise have worked at many different jobs, from farming, driving truck cross country etc, but it's mostly been in the construction business. I also was not really happy working for others but I wouldn't trade any of it for the experience it gave me in discovering who I really am. It gives a person depth in character and helps to understand others view points, also it can help one to be a better person if it's channeled in the right direction.

In running my own business and having several employees, I would surprise myself at times what kind of slavedriver I had become and would have to check myself and be considerate.
It's true, success can be measured by seeing you made your customer happy when a project is completed.

Oxy,and Brent, I agree with what you said, could have said it myself.

Paris, that's true, teaching our children about Christ and his love and teaching them to love others should be the first priority and would definitely be a kind of success.
In taking good care of ourselves physically, there is nothing more important. As the saying goes, if you don't have good health, you don't have anything. Take it from someone who has had hands on experience. How can there be any joy in life if you are hurting everywhere,or you have a disability as the result of a stroke, or you are too heavy and hate yourself for it? The key is to educate yourself in all matters relating to good health and do everything in moderation.

I have 2 friends who are very successful FINANCIALLY, probably could purchase all of my assets with pocket change compared to what I ;have. However considering the Family life of the one I definitly would not want to change, The health and physical wellbeing of the other I would not want to change either. God gave me what I could handle. And I think it is that way for many people.

Hearing the words "Well Done faithful one" to me is true & real success.