Much has been written and taught on the subject of success. Success means something different to each individual. The means by which success is measured also is subjective and can have many different ways of identifying it.
This brief blog post will simply serve as my own personal and humble thoughts on what I believe is one of the key measures of success.
Even within my own mind, I can look at various aspects of success. In other words, I can decide in financial terms what success looks like. I can speak of the social aspects of success. I can share my thoughts on what success in the family looks like and so on. But, the aspect I will choose to talk about this time is more in terms of conquest.
Conquest? As a person who has been forced to face and subsequently wrestle with physical challenges such as blindness, cancer, heart problems and so on, I like to look at success in terms of the giant I conquer along the path of life! Recently, I posted a thought I had on Twitter which simply read, “Success can be measured by the obstacles you see in your rear view mirror.” In fact, it was this thought, and this tweet that inspired this post!
It really is true. We are traveling down the road of life. At times we are cruising at break-neck speeds, other times we are at a stand still in traffic, and yes, there are times where we unfortunately take the wrong exit. Life unfolds before our eyes in the windshield that is in front of us. Most people get caught up in the obstacles that lie ahead and then find themselves paralyzed with fear or indecision. Others find themselves swerving all over the place because their gaze is trapped in the rear view mirror lost in endless thoughts of what might have been, or trying to unravel the mess of bad decisions and trying to rewrite their history.
As for myself, I am keenly aware of the road ahead of me. Not only am I focused on the immediate path, but I also, like any wise individual, try to look far ahead and plan for future possibilities. All the while that I am dealing with the present and planning for my future I find it valuable to glance in the rear view mirror. This type of reflection in my case is done so I can remind myself of the obstacles, or giants, I have already faced and conquered. It gives me great strength and encouragement knowing what I have already come through. It is this knowledge that boosts my confidence and steels my resolve to refuse to shrink back from present or future troubles.
I encourage you today to take a quick look back, specifically at the giants you have slain in your past. I am certain there are at least a few! Don’t stay there too long though! Just long enough to remind yourself that even though the giant at the time seemed insurmountable, they clearly lie on the road behind you no longer a concern. If that giant can fall, then so will the next one!
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