Success Is An Illusion

Okay, so it’s not exactly an illusion but I believe that most of us have a misconception of what success really is. A word that is extremely subjective has been pitched as a standard definition…a state in which we can ultimately arrive. You know,:

Success = Wealth

Success = Job title

Success = Size of your house

Success = The car you drive

I’m not big on assumptions but I do believe that everyone is searching for success in some realm or another. But what is it really? I’d argue that success cannot be quantified as we’ve been taught. It is not defined by how much money one has, how Senior their title is, how many bedrooms are in their home, or what foreign emblem is on the front of their car; although it can be. Success is individual. It’s personal. It’s intimate.

The context in which we define our successes may not be able to be communicated or even understood by the masses. It’s the glory in which we revel because we know every drop of sweat that we put into the journey. It’s individual because we are each unique! We all want the same things out of life but how we come to understand and then seek our desires will be completely different. How far we can go is determinate upon how well we understand our pasts. How much we will accomplish hinges on how vulnerable we are willing to be. How much we grow stands on our individual awareness and willingness to act. It’s personal because , well, it just is. My success is not yours, it’s mine.

It’s not how my parents defined it for me, not society, my teachers, my family, my friends, nor my peers. It can only be quantified by me. It’s intimate because I connected my thoughts to reality. I was willing to dig into a place within myself that scared the shit out of me but I still made the decision to conquer my fears and use them as a paddle to push ahead. I decided to listen to the burning desires from within. It’s my connection with myself and how I understand the world around me.

My success is truly mine and I don’t expect anyone to understand. Not the nuances, the quirks, the small celebrations, the setbacks, the loneliness and certainty not how I’ve chosen to define it. Success is only an illusion if you have allowed other people to tell you what it means to you. But as long as you are open and in control, your success will be never ending.

Brittney Pressley is the Author of Loving Inward, Living Outward, Looking Forward and Open Your Mind Before You Open Your Legs. Born and raised in Hamden, CT, Brittney has always been passionate about finding and revealing truth. She is keen on the importance of self-reflection and the value it has in being successful in all aspects of life. | Follow her at Twitter: @_missbritt2u

This piece was reprinted by EmpathyEducates with permission or license. We thank the Author Brittney Pressley for her kindness, her reflection, and an opportunity to look at ourselves…and what we believe.