Expectations we have of ourselves are greatly influenced by the opinions we formulate about ourselves in childhood. We may think of ourselves as capable in some ways and not in others. When we achieve our positive expectations, we think of ourselves as successful.
Success, or “more success,” is interpreted differently by different people. Success may be found in a major accomplishment or in a small act. Success to one person could be a new job. To another it could be saving money and buying a new house. Success could also be improved health or improved appearance, improved family life, or friendships. It could be winning a race, flying a kite, gathering a bouquet of flowers, preparing a gourmet meal, singing a song, dancing a dance.
Success takes many forms. Whatever form it takes people who experience success feel a sense of achievement and, for the moment at least, a measure of happiness.
Some people feel most successful when they have to work hard to overcome major obstacles, like learning how to control a drinking habit or exercising regularly after an illness or injury.
Other people view success as coping with specific daily tasks. To these people, getting out of bed, leaving the house, and going to work is success for the day. Coping reasonably well on a daily basis with a physically or emotionally ill family member may be seen as success.
Still other people view success as the achievement of long-range goals such as graduation from college, learning to play the piano, being voted into public office, securing a job promotion, or improving a relationship that is falling apart.
When people hold one view strongly, and value one kind of goal (short-term, long-term, difficult to achieve) while discounting others, they may miss out on happiness. Moments of true success may seem hollow, and some people may feel trapped by circumstances beyond their control or by what they consider their personal failures.
The longing for something more is most fully satisfied in people who see value in achieving daily tasks, value in achieving long-range goals, and value in finding the courage to solve crisis situations.
Tweets that mention The Road to Happiness – Expanding your Expectation | Ririan Project -- Topsy.com
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Born Outside the Box, Free Personal Dev. Free Personal Dev said: The Road to Happiness – Expanding your Expectation: Expectations we have of ourselves are greatly influenced by th… http://bit.ly/7whQYq [...]
January 21, 2010 at 11:13 pm
erotık shop
thank you four this informations
February 18, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Boris
Ririan,
For me success is the realization of our own potential while enjoying the process…
All the best,
Boris
June 27, 2010 at 5:28 am
Joshua Noerr
I think that our values are the key to the success we have in life and the value we apply to our successes.
For instance, if you value your friendships above all else, you will assign more value to the success you have in that area. Great article thank you.
June 29, 2010 at 7:06 am
Miranda Cruz
Success is getting everything I want and whenever I want it.
Or so I thought. Its just not about being successful anymore. I used to think that getting everything I want is success itself. It came to a point that I asked myself “Is this all that there is?” I am successful but I’m not happy.
June 30, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Snoring Treatment
Awesome blog! I have gradually become fan of your blog and would like to suggest putting some new updates to make it more effective.
July 4, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Miranda Cruz
Sometimes we expect too much. Human nature I guess. If things doesn’t go our way, that’s where the problem starts.
July 7, 2010 at 12:13 am
müzik albüm
thanks buddy
July 15, 2010 at 9:15 am
arina nikitina
There are many facets of success, and it all depends on how the person views it. What is probably very helpful in measuring one’s success, would be asking himself at a certain point: Is this what I worked for? Does it make me happy? Does it make me want to do more stuff ahead that is similar to this? Somehow these questions would be helpful in evaluating the results of one’s hard work, if it has improved his self-worth or inspire him to do more. This post is going to help so many folks out there with “unclear” perspective about success. Thanks!
September 18, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Judith Symonds the seachange entrepreneur
I always though that the beginning words from The Dog Days by Florence and the Machine started “Happiness is like a train on a track…” It goes on “Still no turning back”. The meaning that I attached to the words that I heard in that song depicted time as the track and the train as now. Happiness is about living now. The beginning of frustration with life is when we are trying either to go back, or to halt the progress of time or to jump ahead to the future. The key to happiness is being in the moment – being present now.
October 16, 2010 at 12:56 am