18. The Success Factor

18

ThE SuCCESS FACTOR

We have little time to reflect on our inner being in the glitter of today’s materialistic world. However, no illusion can hold forever. A day comes when the reality of chasing a mirage dawns upon us. We realize that it was as futile as chasing one’s own tail. This wild goose chase ultimately sucks all vital energy and life becomes a perpetual cycle of self-serving delusions. Seek the real meaning of life while your body and mind are healthy. Otherwise, lassitude will never leave life until it overtakes your whole existence. We all attach great importance to materialistic possessions. Have you ever pondered over their relevance to your life? Mere boxes of tin that run on wheels seem to define our ego. A car, good house and a reputable job have become the ultimate objective for most people. All these things were made to serve humans. Somehow, we have come to serve the lifeless materialistic possessions. Your body wants sleep but your pocket wants money. And the conflict never ends. In fact, the richer you are, more reasons you have to grow insomniac. The velvety beds become pallets of thorns, if there is no peace of mind. We do not seem to take any lesson from misery of the powerful that have fallen from grace owing to their lust for money. There are people who have earned more money than required for their seven generations. This greed leaves them with little time to stop and relish life. Yet, they cannot stop craving for more richness. But where do you find true richness? It is surely not in the future. Cut through the gluttony and you

can find it at this moment. You do not have to acquire it; you already own it. The question is of looking with in for the real treasure. Your consciousness will shine, once you remove the dirt of ignorance. This inner radiance attracts the whole world. One must know the real meaning of success in life. It is more than just prosperity or recognition. To some success might mean living up to their ideals. From a common perspective, we can say the real success should have two necessary ingredients; blissfulness and service to others. Our mind identifies success with the emotion of victory. You work hard for your ambition because you visualize the moment of bliss that would entail its fulfillment. Just remember the moments when you have tasted victory. Success in seemingly small events like some school competition or some sports can be exhilarating. Sometimes, we also identify ourselves with the success of others. Like, when we are totally absorbed in some crucial game of cricket. In summary, our mind savors success because it fulfills the desire to experience bliss. We all want to win, whether it is a game of chess or battlefield of life. This inherent yearning for victory necessitates the contemplation of our aspirations. Normally, all our dreams are an outcome of present circumstances. We all want to become what we are not today. Success is not possible without struggle. Victory comes only to those who fight hard. As Emily Dickinson said, “To comprehend a nectar, requires sorest need. The triumph counts most to those, who have learnt to love their struggle. All limitations are only in mind. Smaller vision restricts the scope of your dreams. Your whole life is spent clutching to the status quo once you have realized them. But you cannot win against the fundamental principle of change. The same life that was once your dream becomes grief, if you do not evolve with time. As humanity continues its march forward in time, the pace of change keeps increasing. This makes adaptation a key

ingredient of success in today’s world. You must have seen many fortunes changing in your life. Learn to accept change. Make conscious efforts to make it a better one. Therefore, we can say that adaptability and struggle are two vital aspects of success. A successful person is pleasant and confident. The secrets of success are revealed by regular practice. Success also means security. One cannot feel proud unless secure. How can a person whose family is not safe be termed as successful? A sense of achievement is also associated with fulfilment of elders’ expectations and providing for the necessities of the younger ones. But they can seem like a failure if you take them as a burden. Success is incomplete unless you fulfill these responsibilities. Those who shirk their commitments never get a taste of success. Raising a child could be the biggest achievement for parents. Likewise, a smile on the face of parents could be worth more than thousand gains, if you are a son or a daughter. This is a time-tested fact. People who take their responsibilities seriously are successful in relationships. These responsibilities could be financial, emotional or psychological. In a nutshell, anything that brings satisfaction is success. Success becomes a habit once we understand its true meaning. You can understand the whole concept of success through a simple example. Suppose you have to reach a destination. Now, you know either the route or at least the address of the location. Things are simple in the former case, as you only have to start moving on the road. In the latter case, you have to take the help of others. You seek directions from strangers or friends. Whether you undertake the journey in car or on foot depends on your circumstances. Success, in this case, is reaching that particular location. The same thing applies to life; if you do not know the way, you have to seek guidance. The seasoned players can manage success or failure

better because they have already undergone the same experience. Whereas, the novice players have to learn to keep their cool in both the circumstances. This learning takes time and patience. The efficiency of your learning depends on your receptivity. The importance of a capable guide can never be over emphasized. You will lose time and energy, if misguided by somebody along the way. The risk of straying from the path is always there until you reach the destination. However, it is sometimes good to be lost in the right direction. You should never lose patience and keep focus on the target. Life is also a journey in the dimension of time. Your health and competence are the mediums to accomplish your aims. You will need to nurture both physical as well as mental capabilities. The clarity of mind is imperative for success. If you know what you want to do in life, then you know the address of your destination. Now, you only need to find the route. Nothing can stop you from reaching your goal once you start treading on the road. You only have to guard against negative impulses. Reaffirm your desire to fulfill the ambition whenever pessimism starts overwhelming your resolve. Ask yourself, ‘are you really doing what you always wanted to do?’ Contemplate with the relaxed mind if no clear answer emerges. Deviating from path can lead to mental fatigue. However, avoid methods of instant gratification of relaxing your mind. Try to motivate yourself with positive thinking that inspires you to stay on the course. Make a list of the reflections that rejuvenate your spirits. The moment of rediscovering the sense of direction within the self is liberating. A constant composure is the hallmark of a person who is determined to realize the goal. The famous Hollywood actor Jim Carrey said, “i

hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know that it’s not the answer.”

Study the life of those who have already achieved what you are longing for. They are an important signpost whether you have chosen the right path. Be ready for the next mission as soon as you have accomplished one objective. This is the only way to a dynamic living. As famous Welsh novelist, Gwyn Thomas stated, ““But the beauty is in the walking -- we are betrayed by destinations.” A dormant mind becomes listless just as stagnant water starts stinking. Success is not a destination, but the road that you are on. Being successful means that you are working hard and walking your walk every day. Feel gratitude for the existence that has bestowed the power of chasing your dreams. The journey itself becomes the biggest reward when you are on the right track. If thorns along your way teach lessons, the moments of rejoicing recharge your batteries. The constant lust for pleasure will make you insecure and lethargic. I have seen many people slipping into drug abuse just because they lacked the clear vision in life. The state of intoxication is only a temporary retreat. It does not solve the real challenges of life. A time comes when drug habits take control of your life and you feel helpless without them. You become a narcotics addict because you do not have strong motivations in life. It slowly plunges you into the darkness of despondency and takes away all hope. Your body is wearing with each passing moment. Every breath you take is one small step towards the ultimate destiny of death. Life is not a blank cheque. We only have limited time to make a mark for generations to come. We have discussed in detail that social utility is also a manifestation of real success. Presenting an ideal, redefining the limits of your chosen area of action makes life worthy. We can only evaluate an ideal personality in entirety. Many film heroes exemplify perfection on-screen but they are entirely opposite in the real life. Such people are certainly not the personalities one would like to emulate. You should be a paragon, an epitomization of

excellence in the eyes of the world. This is the real criterion of success. Remember your aim is not to belittle other people, it will only bring frustration at the end. Do justice to the self-image and the world would acknowledge you. We all want to be known as a generous and amiable person. We try our best to behave like the one. Many people donate millions in charity. All of us know, in theory, that honesty, generosity and love are the enriching values. Then, why are most people bereft of the same qualities? It is because most people only feign these attributes. The point, however, is to inculcate these characteristics. Try to observe what makes other people beautiful. We know beauty is always deeper than the skin. A healthy life and kind heart are its real secrets. But our whole effort seems to be concentrated on appearing like a beautiful person. Whereas, any imposed change will only be temporary. The real transformation can only come when the change emanates from within your being. Every human being is born beautiful. The existence does not know ugliness. All that is bad in us comes from the world. Your success as well as personality is in your hands. You have to decide what is right and wrong for you. It is never too late to begin the process of transformation. The moment you shed negativity, the positive change starts happening. Realize your true self. Anything that takes you away from your real nature is like a poison. Do not ignore your potential; it is the biggest injustice that one can inflict on the self. The moment you realize the true path, success kisses your feet.

Things to remember-

1. True success lies in realizing your true self. 2. Progress means developing your talent every day. Everyone has different capabilities. You need to identify them.

3. Material success, big office, expensive cars can be part of your marketing and branding. These are not the real motives of a business. 4. True success is to benefit the society. 5. You get recognition as you keep learning new skills.

Recognition is only the beginning of your success journey. 6. Don’t fall prey to vanity. It will only hamper your progress. 7. You are your best competitor. Keep improving and never compare with others. 8. Opportunities come and go. You confidence and capability matter. 9. Develop yourself in a way that you are beneficial to the society and others can emulate you. 10. Change is not big or small. Changing even a village can mean a huge success.