There’s never been a time in history when so called ‘successful’ people have been so idolised and admired. For most of us success is judged by the accumulation of wealth, prestige and power. But when judged by their level of happiness in life, you would have to say that many of the ‘successful’ haven’t been very successful at all.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, though, had a far more realistic concept of success:’To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better; to know even one other life has breathed easier because you lived – This is to have succeeded.’
Success is not just what you do, but what you are.