Success
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is 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
Whether by a healthy child, a garden
Patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier
Because you have lived;

That is to have succeeded.

Having said that, I believe that everyone has to have their own definition of "Success". I read somewhere before that "success is being able to do what one wants to do". I agree with that too. So an unhappy lawyer who is earning big bucks but who really wants to be an actor may not necessarily be "successful"..

But then one may ask: What about those things that I don't want to do but everyone tells me I have to do because it is "good for me"?

I think for those things then, you have to ask yourself first of all if you agree they are "good for you". If deep in your heart you do not agree, then maybe doing them may not really be such a good idea... i think you should trust your gut feel to some extent.. But on the other hand, if in resisiting them, you find that you are merely lazy or procrastinating or fearful but that these things are in fact good for you (for whatever reason), then do them without hesitation. Persuade and convince yourself that these are good for you so that the willingness to do them may come.

and this is stuff i muse about at night. instead of sleep. zzzzzz