Am I Successful?

In today's world success is big business, and like any commodity, it's offered for sale by everyone from the major corporations to spiritual gurus to high school teachers. There are endless definitions of success, many of them conflicting. It's no wonder that a large number of us think we are not successful, and in some cases don't even have a clear idea of what success would mean for us. When you think of your life, how do you feel about it? How do you answer the question: Am I successful?

This beautiful quote from Maya Angelou helps to put things in a framework that allows anyone to feel successful.

Having the right definition of success is more than just a matter of semantics. It's crucial that each person have a vision of success that is personally relevant and achievable. If we adopt someone else's vision or just acquiesce to popular notions, we won't feel good about our lives even if we achieve what we set out to do. And how can anyone be successful if she is unhappy?

Success has to mean something that matters to you. It has to be a concept that is personally tailored to your tastes and preferences, your personality and character, your ideals and talents. What is success to one person may not be satisfying to another, and that is okay. No matter what the outside world says, success is a personal thing.