There are many definitions of success, but this one by Dr. Kelly Flanagan tops my list:
“… success is what happens when you make your true self your lived self.”
We can accomplish so many things — academically, professionally, personally — but unless we are being true to ourselves, all our victories ring hollow.
We can allow someone to place a ribbon around our neck or we can grasp hold of an award certificate with our name on it … but the victory is tainted unless we’re living an honest life.
Conforming to someone else’s demands of who they think we need to be so they’ll give us their stamp of approval makes us smaller. Agreeing to others’ definition of who we are snuffs out the spark of divine originality inherent in each of our lives, shackling our freedom to be our true selves.
Success then, isn’t so much “to be or not to be,” but more “are you living as your true self?”
In Your Words: When have you experienced living your true self?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”pR1xe” via=”yes” ]In Others\’ Words: True Success http://wp.me/p63waO-2l7 #InOthersWords #quotes #truesuccess[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”td8WY” via=”yes” ]\”…#success is what happens when you make your true self your lived self.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2l7 #quotes @DrKellyFlanagan[/ctt]
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Comments 6
True success is survival.
I don’t know if there IS a true self; life at the end of the road is like being in a batting cage that’s the target of way too many pitching machines. You just keep swinging.
True or ersatz, it doesn’t matter to me, as long as I can keep my feet through the next insane minute.
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Andrew: You do live your true self. With every blog you post. Every comment you write. You do.
I am sorry each day is such a struggle. But your example inspires so many others.
Maybe on mission trips when I reach the deepest to give the most. Those times are usually very physically demanding but rewarding in memories, growth, and gained understanding that go on a long time after I fly back home and “recover”.
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Dee: You make a good point that we are our most true selves when we think least about ourselves. i.
I believe true success is being happy is doing what you love….whether writing, raising a family…knowing you are doing your best and following God.
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Janet: So much truth here. If we follow God, then we are bound to discover what He created us to be … and do.