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Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. - Albert Einstein

Is easy in life when we see others experience the kind of lasting success we would like, to think how lucky they are. This point of view, however, usually changes when we take a closer look at their lives and see that their lasting success is the by-product of more than just luck. This could not have been truer in the life of Steve Jobs, one of the most influential and successful people in our era, who realized better than most that real success is not really a destination or a result, but rather the by-product of who we become as we remain true to the calling of our lives and travel down its path.

We live in a world that is obsessed with success yet very few of us ever claim to find it. The more we chase it the more it seems to elude us. For those of us that make it our main goal we very quickly find out that the more we look for it the less likely it is for us to find it. This is because success is shy and only joins our journey when it knows that it won't be cornered or given all of our attention. It is important to realize that we need to come to a place where we understand that those that experience long term success are people that understand that they are not responsible for being successful, instead they are responsible for the growth and development that takes place in their inner lives as real success is not what defines them, it is simply what surrounds who they become over time. Much like the decorations on a birthday cake. It complements what is within the cake instead of being the main ingredient responsible for making it in the first place.

Inner Peace

In the last few weeks I shared with you some thoughts and reflections about Inner Peace. In one of the blogs I spoke about the need to control things in our lives and how we gain the most control over our lives when we realize that in fact we have very little control over them or the bigger picture they are a part of. With success is very much the same. When we hold on loosely to our need of having it we suddenly position ourselves in the best possible way for it to become a part of us. This is because as we take our eyes of it we are able to finally see the traits that can really add value and make the difference in our inner lives. Traits like character, honesty, truth, integrity, peace, and self-discovery. The kind of things that lasting success enjoys and is comfortable being a part of. Henry David Thoreau said, "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."

Complemented by Success

People that understand the principle I just described choose not to take the shortest route to success like the little dummy on the video. This is because they realize that though this route at first might appear as the one that will bring them the most benefits the quickest, in reality it bypasses the opportunities that will cause them to grow and lead them to become the people they were meant to be so they could experience the real success they were meant to have. Opportunities that will develop them into the type of individuals that will not be overtaken by success but instead will be complemented by it. Most lottery winners discover this principle very quickly as they blow away the massive amounts of money they win trying to superficially glitter their lives so they can experience what they think real success is, only to find out in time that real success is not made up of the glitter we display outside, but instead of the condition and size of the inner man to which the glitter complements.

David Brinkley said, "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." Make sure you remember these words every time someone or something challenges you in life, as the way you choose to respond will contribute towards determining whether you will become a cruise liner or remain a simple kayak!

Always for you!

Pablo Giacopelli

www.holdingonloosely.com

www.uxlinlife.com

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