What Is Success For You?

Success comes in different shapes, sizes, and forms. It’s not as one-dimensional as some would think. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. I’ve personally witnessed many people become successful in their own, unique, way. Allow me to share.

My mother came to the U.S. with no extra clothes, no money, and no idea where she would live. She found a job and managed to add a few English words together to make a living.

I’ve seen many (Latino) immigrant parents ask their kids to translate for them since many of them can hardly speak English, but still work hard to give their sons and daughters a better life than they had.

I’ve grappled with the reality that the African-American sons and daughters holding the best positions in the U.S. – the result of access to a modern education system – owe much gratitude to their parents who left their home countries in quest of superior opportunities for their children.

Now, would you say that those parents weren’t successful? I would hope not; those parents were absolutely successful!

Though they may not have attained “popular” success, you know the success that glimmers like gold, but their children and grandchildren have. And those parents will likely die happy, knowing they’ve left a legacy – access to dreams. This is a success for our fellow immigrant families my friend.

So before you even think that you’re not successful, think for a minute. Think about it over and over and realize that you’re successful in your own way. Think of all your achievements. Think of all you have been through and how you still have the breath of life. Think about the education you have received. Think of how you’re able to operate on your own. Think of all the resources God has put at your door. And define your own success.

Man…I’ll say you are well-off compared to many others. Often times, we think success is determined by your wealth. Not exclusively.

I understand that you are not even close to where you want to be yet. But with the right mindset, the right attitude, the right character, the right goal-setting and certainly the right plan, I can see you making it all the way up…there.

See, we tend to block our past achievements to focus on getting what we don’t have. How good it is to constantly thank God for your blessings. He knows what tomorrow will bring for you.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Mat. 6:25-26 ESV.

Allow me to give you some advice: just go slowly. There’s no need to rush. Don’t run. Just walk. Walk in the right place because you don’t want to be out of breath. Because if you’re breathless, you will need to stop. And it won’t be a shortstop -which could delay you on the course of achieving it all.

Stay on the course. Keep learning. Maintain gratitude daily. Perform charity. Live life fully. Enjoy and have fun. Smile every morning. Meditate and read your Bible. Seek for wisdom and knowledge.

It’s Ok to go at a slow speed. Just persevere. Have faith. Pray for endurance —because it won’t be easy. Believe in yourself. Trust in the Lord. Be patient. And I guarantee you, you will certainly reach your end goal.

Now take your backpack and let’s get going on your way to becoming better.

Cheers to a better you!