Behold this quote from the late, great, Dean of Personal Development, Earl Nightingale, regarding success:
“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.”
Now notice how this definition says nothing about actually achieving something. It has nothing to do with reaching an ‘end result.’
What he’s saying is that, in order to be successful, all you have to do is continually strive to actualize the vision you hold in your mind.
And that’s important.
It’s important because it means you’ve been looking at success all wrong.
You likely think about success as reaching your own pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You see it as a destination — a place for you to finally land.
Problem is…
Once you get there, you still feel lost. You don’t feel that sense of euphoria you thought you’d feel. What you held in your mind for so long is finally here — yet that sense of accomplishment is fleeting, at best.
Why does this happen? Simple.
Humans are at their best when they are striving to accomplish something — NOT when they reach the final destination.
You feel better on your way to dinner than you do on your way home.
You feel better on the way to your vacation. But not so hot on the way back.
You feel better in the process of building something than you do once it’s finally built.
And you feel better reaching for your goals than you do once they’re accomplished.
What this means for you, my sweet little cherub, is simply this…
Always have a goal in mind.
Always have something to strive for.
Always have a vision that you are consistently trying to make a reality.
But realize, as well, that as those goals and visions come closer to fruition (which they will with persistent effort and action) you must also prepare your mind to reach for something new.
Success isn’t the destination, it’s the journey you took to get there.
Now adjust your sails and ask yourself:
“Where will I let the wind of opportunity carry me next?”