How do you measure whether you are successful in this life?

1. 83

   Faith Reaperposted 10 years ago

   How do you measure whether you are successful in this life?
   
   How do you measure success i.e., money, material possessions, great job or is there something else by which you deem you are successful in this life? Thanks for answering.

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   HeatherH104posted 10 years ago

   This is really an excellent question. I think it's very hard to define success. If a person has a high paying job and everything they want but is unhappy and miserable, can you call that success? If a person has a job/life that satisfies them but doesn't make or have a lot, are they unsuccessful? I tend to think a fulfilling life is success, however I don't think being dirt poor is fulfilling so there has to be a balance between both.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hello HeatherH104, so nice to meet you and I appreciate your great insight as to what being successful in this life means and what it does not mean!
      Thanks for answering.

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   lesliebyarsposted 10 years ago

   I think of success as having a family who loves you and cares for you, having a job, being fortunate to have a car. and a roof over my head.  I had learned that I very much have taken these things for granted.  Having being humbled in a major way over the past two years, I have learned to appreciate each day and having the ability to get to work each day.  This helps me feel successful yes but, also fulfilled in that my job as as Medical Assistant/Surgery Scheduler I know that I work my hardest to help them feel better.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi lesliebyars, oh, wow, thanks for sharing a bit as to why and now, how you measure success in your life. Yes, I understand about being humbled too in a major way no doubt.  It truly gives one a new perspective on things.  Great answer!

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   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   For me, there are a lot of things I would have liked to accomplish and never did.  But I look at our family and feel very content and successful. My husband and I had rough starts as kids, and we made up for minds to have a functional, happy family and we did it.
   
   We are reminded of this when our grandchildren come over once or twice a week to spend the afternoon with us and we all have a ball. There is nothing better...it washes away all the "want" of things left undone and unaccomplished.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi duffsmom, thanks so much for sharing your life and thoughts on this question.  Yes, my granddaughters are up for a week with us since last night, as they are such a joy, and I could not imagine life without that kind of joy.  Lovely answer!

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   Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

   Sorry but this is an awesome question with the easiest answer in the world.
   
   When I wake up there is a curved line in my face. Mostly when I wake up it goes from one dimple to another. It kind of forms a sliver moon. I then kiss my boy and my wife. And watch as the birds surround us for the day. And the sun somehow casts a hue of what will be. I do not care what the day brings. For it is already determined to be a day that the Lord has made and I shall be glad and rejoice in it.
   
   The guy down the street has a really cool pickup and we look up on the hill and see the rich people with their double wides and sports cars. We will hug and dance together and be happy in their happiness.
   And times are tough and we argue over money and worry about the mortgage. But we have made it baby!! We have a life of love together. Hallelujah!!
   
   Probably not what you were going for but us struggling artists have a skewed perspective.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Dearest Eric, I just love when you pop in to answer questions, as it is always such a joy to read your delightful answers!  Yes, this is exactly how I measure success.  What a beautiful answer here and thanks for sharing a bit of your success!!!

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My money honey, all praise goes to you for reminding me of my blessings. I hope others love each other as we do. I will head out for the day for some work. And I swear I will hug the first person I do business with and hold their hand. Let us live it

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   3. 83

      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Aw, yes, let us do so and share love to others as we should!  God bless you.
      
      In His Love, Faith Reaper

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6. 71

   lburmasterposted 10 years ago

   If you have achieved your goals. But for measuring someone else's success? Their job, if they are happy with their job, if they have a family, if they are happy with their family, etc.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Iburmaster,  Thanks so much for answering here.   I am asking how you, personally, measure
      Hi Iburmaster, thanks for answering.  Well, I was wanting to know how you, not others, personally measure whether you are successful in this life or not

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   Kathleen Kerswigposted 10 years ago

   There was a time when I thought I should measure my success by the amount of money and possessions I had in my life but I have changed my mind. I am not rich and I do not own many possessions, but I am working in a field that I love, I am blessed with friends who love me unconditionally, and I am learning new things every day. I am in graduate school now and this was never in my life plan. I am working very hard between work and school and yet I would not trade a minute of all that I get to do. I am so glad I'm at this point in my life where my perspective has shifted to appreciating what I do have.
   
   Thanks for asking a great question!

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Kathleen, thanks for answering.  Yes, it is so funny just how our perspective on success changes and from your answer here, it is evident you know of that true success and what it means.  Thanks for the great answer!

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   Thesourceposted 10 years ago

   If your thoughts, words, choices and actions in the context of all the situations you faced are consistent with your deepest feelings. Self definition is the only purpose of life.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Thesource,  I appreciate you taking the time to answer.  Interesting answer here.

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9. 45

   DDEposted 10 years ago

   Success goes hand in hand with happiness if you are happy with what you have then you have succeeded

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If you will be my friend it will be a good and successful day.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi DDE, thank you so much for answering.  Yes, indeed, I like that, happiness is success! So true!

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10. 61

    Sparkleaposted 10 years ago

    Hi Faith,
    I believe success is living a simple life, loving others and not hurting others.  The result is peace of mind, which is priceless.
    To get up each morning, give the day to God, ask Him to guide me intuitively moment by moment and trusting He does.  All of this is success. 
    Thank you for this beautiful question.  Love Sparklea

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    1. 83

       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Dearest Sparklea,
       
       Yes, that truly is success no doubt, if one  is able to do such and truly love others and turning all over to God, then truly trusting Him and placing our full faith in Him, then it is surely success!!!  God bless you.

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    Ralph Deedsposted 10 years ago

    Gordon Gekko, David Siegel, Mitt Romney, Jamie Dimon, et al: "The guy who dies with the most toys wins."

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       Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I loved that Tee Shirt.

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Ralph Deeds, thank you for taking the time to answer.  Interesting perspective as to success.

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    Tonipetposted 10 years ago

    Hi Faith. Intriguing question. To me, regardless of money, fame and a great job, to be successful in life is when you have taken a big part of what you have and what you are for others, yet it makes you happy seeing people smile. What would money be for if one doesn't know how to share, what could a great offer one if it does not care about people, and how can a very rich individual enjoy all those possessions when they are of no use?
    
    We needed people and I think it's when we give our hearts to others in our little way using GOD's blessings that make us successful in this life. : Thanks for asking... Blessings!

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Tonipet,  Thanks so much for answering.  What a lovely insight to what success means to you in this lifetime ...making people smile by giving of our hearts!  Wonderful!

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    CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years ago

    I used to think having a career was a measurement of success.
    I had a very successful, high-paying, career for 12 years.  I retired when I had my first child.
    
    Life has a way of leading us down paths that we would have never chosen for ourselves.  When you go through hard times, you come out a better person from it. 
    
    I now measure success not by the amount of money in the bank, or designer clothing in the closet, but I have learned along my journey that I can pass knowledge along to others.  The kind of knowledge that only comes from the heart from one's own experiences.
    
    True success for me is when someone can gain knowledge from my experiences, good or bad, and better themselves from it.  It's satisfying knowing that all the pain and hardships we go through in life can translate into someone else's empowerment to do better for themselves.
    
    In my experience, after all is said and done, the only thing I have left is love.

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hello CraftytotheCore, I love your hub name!  Thanks for answering and what an awesome answer it is, bottom line love!  You know it!  Yes, our life experiences will reveal much after so long as to what is important and not so much after all.

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14. 71

    toptendealsposted 10 years ago

    I think you measure success in your life by defining goals and trying to fulfill them.
    
    A quote from Jim Gaffigan popped into my head,
    
    I ask my wife, I'm like, "what's the deal with all these pillows on our bed? How often are you giving a tour of our bedroom?"    And has anyone ever been impressed by pillows?
    Like someone's gonna leave your bedroom, "I didn't know they were doing that well."

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    1. 83

       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hello toptendeals,  Thanks for answering.  Yes, it is always good to have goals!  lol on the too many pillows ... too much watching HGTV maybe ...hehe

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    maryedwposted 10 years ago

    For me, it is not just the accolades and the material things that measure whether I am successful in life. For me, it is knowing that I did the best by the people I come in contact with on a daily basis whether as routine or mere chance. For me it is knowing that I am living like I should and having the wisdom to know the difference if I am not and make a change.

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hello maryedw,  thank you so much for answering with such a genuine and heartfelt answer here.  Yes, as we go through our daily lives, let us be the best to those with whom we do come into contact!  Excellent.

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    DrRebeccaSandersposted 10 years ago

    Honestly, at this point in my life - I measure success as making it through a day feeling like I've done my best to contribute something somewhere or make someone smile or think.  I used to measure success by my job; however, due to a slowdown in my job, it no longer meets my financial needs.  As a result, I'm having to re-evaluate several things in my life -- success is one of them.  Even though I'm struggling financially (as many people are in today's economy), I still believe I have been successful.  I've raised a son as a single parent.  I've been able to meet basic needs - even if it has been with some additional help from others at times.  I earned a doctoral degree and continue to study and research as I believe in lifelong learning.  If success is measured by one's job, money, or material possessions, then I am a failure.  But I've had so much success in my life so far, I find it hard to believe the rest of my life will end up in the failure department.  Therefore, my success is simply on intermission status:  making it through a day contributing something somewhere.

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi DrRebeccaSanders, Thanks for the honest answer here!  Although you are facing such financial issues, you are contributing to helping others, which is profound and in my book, very successful indeed, which does not sound like failure to me!

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    epbooksposted 10 years ago

    If you try to measure success in your own life by living up to someone else's goals, you are bound to be disappointed.  Measuring success should mean that you set goals and dreams that you want to accomplish.  Once you accomplish some or all of them, you have succeeded!

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi epbooks, very interesting answer and so true no doubt, as one must surely set one's own goals.  We should never compare ourselves to each other.  Awesome!

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    Jay Max Justerposted 10 years ago

    If you are searching for an answer that will help you find happiness, all the responses here will not help you.
    
    True success can only be determined internally. A successful person is defined as "someone who has a record of past events that achieved their intended goals."
    
    The first part of this definition implies that success is a habit, not one simple action, much like Aristotle defines excellence.
    
    Second, success in this context demands the element of intent. You can't realistically stumble upon success, it's only the result of focused, sustained effort.
    
    For example, if you want a million dollars and win the lottery, would that still be considered a success? I think not.
    
    On the other hand, if you got a C on a paper in school and your friend, who's a straight D student, thought that you were amazing, would you still consider this other person's opinion completely true?

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       Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Jay Max Juster, oh, no, I am not asking in search of my own happiness, as I am good to go, but asking ask to what others define as being successful in this life.  I agree, having a million dollars is not success to me!
       Thanks for answering.

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    IvoryTuskposted 8 years ago

    When I was in the 6th grade, we looked at what happens when a quote is so well loved that we don't really know who said it, but it touches all of us.  We looked at the quote that has been erroneously attributed to Stevenson, Thoreau, and Emerson. It has been what has driven my idea of success since then:
    
    "To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded."

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       Faith Reaperposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       HI Ivory Tusk, oh, that quote is the perfect response to this question! And it has always been one of my favorite quotes. Thank you for sharing. It certainly sums up success in my mind.

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       IvoryTuskposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, Faith Reaper, for this kind response.  It has stuck with me even through the hardest days.  Another of my favorites is: No matter what he does, every person plays a central role in the history of the world and normally he doesn't know it.

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