The Key Ingredients to Personal Success

Personal success may be viewed differently from person to person. As I reflected on this topic, I sat down on the creaky rocking chair with my two month old nephew in my arms. I stared bemusedly at David who was sleeping and thought long and hard about success. David gave me a half smile. Twice. I stifled my giggle for fear that I might wake him up.

"Can he read my mind?" I wondered at the half smile he gave me. My thoughts and questions continued. "What will he be like when he grows up?" I wondered some more. "What will be his dreams?" David moved restlessly in my arms. "Okay, okay." I said aloud this time. "I will let you be." He settled down again.

So what then is my definition of success? My definition of personal success in simple terms would encompass the following: achieving who I want to become, acquiring the things I want to have and do the things I want to do. It's about building character, having a purpose and a vision and living a life of abundance.

Personal success can only be achieved if you have a clear definition of what success is to you. Otherwise, it is just plain confusion and going around in circles. If you already know what kind of person you want to be; and know the things you want to do and the things you want to have, that is wonderful!

However, if you are still having doubts as to what you want, start writing it down now. Answer the question I posted above. Who do you want to become? What do you want to do? What do you want to have?

If you want to discover you life's purpose try to answer the following questions as well.

• What is your passion? What do you love to do? What is that one thing that you do that you enjoy doing that you get so fired up that you will do willingly even if you will not get paid for it?

• Where do you excel? You see, if you want to know your life's purpose and mission, you have to wear your detective hat and observe yourself closely. More often that not, we excel in what we are passionate about because we tend to do it often and with enthusiasm too!

The key ingredient to personal success is self awareness. If you are able to discover your passion and know that this is the area where you excel at, here lies the basic foundation for your personal success.

Another key ingredient to personal success is having focus.  Into your life will come opportunities.  Doors, windows and even gates will open wide for you!  But you will not get distracted by all of these.  If you know what you want, you can go for it with mindful determination.

Another equally important point to focus or concentration is the ability to go on amidst the challenges that come your way.  People may belittle your dreams, but if you stay focused on your goal the way to success is clear.

The third ingredient to personal success is having peace of mind. You can achieve personal success with gratitude and peace of mind. This comes from concentrating on what you have, rather on what you don't have. Have you noticed that every time we feel grateful for something, we become more peaceful?

Every time you say "thank you" you are in fact declaring "I accept who I am. I accept what I have and where I am. I'm constantly learning and growing and it is a beautiful thing."

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." --Melody Beattie

There is a natural law that shows us the concept of cause and effect. The farmer understands this concept very well. if you want to reap a certain harvest, you need to put in the effort first. You do the work (you plant the seed, water and take care of it) and you reap your harvest. Not tomorrow mind you but later! Patience please.

If part of your definition of personal success is having a wonderful family life, then you start building your relationships with your family. Spend quality time with them, enjoy their company and so on. If your family life sucks, you need to look at what you are putting in.

There is something odd if you hear a person complaining, "I wake up early in the morning to meditate. I exercise regularly. I enjoy studying and nurturing relationships and my life sucks!"

Another key ingredient to success is acknowledging and recognizing your divinity within. You are able to shine and grow into the grandest, most wonderful version of who you are and who you can ever be, if you allow the divinity within you to come forth and shine.

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others". --Marianne Williamson

David wakes up and is now looking at me with wide eyes. I recognize that at the end of the day, personal success to me is still about giving and receiving love. It is experiencing joy in whatever situation I am in. It is about making a difference. It is about being at peace with my God.

And oh yes, it is also my desire to achieve financial wellness. Having financial freedom will enable me to do more of what I am doing now.

I wish you well in your journey to success.

By: Michelle Simtoco

SPECIAL CREDIT goes to Mike Waters for the Christian Cartoons. Used with his kind permission and blessings. To see more of his artwork, visit Joyful'toons.com

Do visit our Loving Abundance website where dayzeebee and I write as well.