I love to read this meditation on success when I’m ending a workshop on managing communication and coping with change. I wrote it for people who are eager to climb the ladder of success–and for myself when I feel a bit lost, lonely or like a loser.
Imagine that these words are being read to you by a soothing inner voice. Let the words describe what being a successful person steeped in self-esteem might mean to you and me:
SUCCESS MEANS: Self-respect. Standing up for important values. Putting people first. Placing more stock in feelings than reasons. Being genuine in the face of any temptation to be phony.
Success means being a real person.
SUCCESS MEANS: Taking time. Taking time to think about and meet your needs. Taking time to be a creative problem-solver. Accepting reassurances when you are hurting and not passing along blame. Being open to growing and learning new things on a daily basis.
Success means being as brave as you can be in the face of discouragement.
SUCCESS MEANS: Falling flat on your face and getting up again. Trying something different, even when you feel you can’t. Talking openly instead of pushing your point down a closed throat. Communicating rather than just talking.
Success means telling the whole truth.
SUCCESS MEANS: Giving more than is required to get a good evaluation. Keeping your promises. Playing the business game in straight ways. Setting your positive goals carefully. Adding your own special, personal flair to whatever you do.
Success means being assertive.
SUCCESS MEANS: Taking the hard road instead of the fast track. Helping yourself to heaps of helpful feedback. Receiving support when you are suffering from a serious setback. Spearheading your own sincere causes.
Success means making all of your wishes come true.
SUCCESS MEANS: Complimenting anyone and everyone with whom you come into contact. Nurturing yourself by being the most positive person you can be. Solving problems, instead of passing them on to the next gal or guy. Turning down easy money that is bound to make you feel guilty.
Success means nurturing what is right and good.
SUCCESS MEANS: Crying when you are hurt. Eating when you are hungry. Loving the people who love you back. Avoiding those people who find you boring or who hate your guts.
Success means respecting your needs for positive emotions, thoughts, deeds, talks.
SUCCESS MEANS: Laughing loud belly laughs and being able to laugh at yourself. Telling the type of joke that puts everyone in a good light. Really loving your time on this planet.
Success means loving the mystery and serendipity of it all.
SUCCESS MEANS: Always remembering your roots. Putting people and quality relationships ahead of fame and fortune. Diving down deep into the wellsprings of your strengths.
Success means being the best person you are capable of being.
SUCCESS MEANS: Always reaching toward the stars. Accepting help from angels. Staying away from devils. It means loving your parents and forgiving them the error of their ways, as they forgive yours. Coming to know your weaknesses and not repeating them for all eternity.
Success means the freedom to learn, grow and change today.
SUCCESS MEANS: Being thankful for all you have. Being thankful for all you’ve been taught. Learning to change big weaknesses into mighty assets. Always taking the time to thank God, when you have lost the habit.
Success means highlighting the good times.
SUCCESS MEANS: Respecting the little guy/gal and the big shot equally. Doing the right thing even when it hurts or may prove to be the wrong move for your career. Making good choices that sometimes feel bad and avoiding bad choices that may feel awfully good.
Success means being proud to be a person whose handshake is more binding than a legal document.
SUCCESS MEANS: Keeping hope when hope is slim. Validating all the hard work that it took to get where you are. Enjoying your travels as you speed toward the destination of your positive communication experiences.
Success means choosing hopefulness instead of despair when all hope has been lost.
Success comes from being who you truly are. No fakery, no phony masks, no guilt trips, no jive talking, no hot air, no excuses, no perfect anything. Lasting success comes from talking positively and taking the fear out of changing on a routine basis.
Dr. Dennis O’Grady is a communications psychologist from Dayton, Ohio, and the author of TALK TO ME: Communication moves to get along with anyone.