Success is not something you have but something you become

Most people when they hear the word success, they think of material success. Big houses, designer clothes, fast cars, luxurious travel etc. Although this might look like success to the majority of the world, the people that live that life might not really be that successful. It’s not about what you show to the world or what titles and possession you have.

It’s about how you feel about yourself, what characteristics you acquired during the process of accomplishing your goals and how many people you help. Material possessions and accomplishments do not come with you after you die. What you take with you is your personality, you character, the lessons that you learned in the school of life and the energy that you gave out to the world.

The reason that most people buy the expensive clothes, the big houses and the luxury cars is to impress other people. The best combination for mastering your life is continuous improvement plus humility. Take away social media and the neediness to impress other people, how many of those materialistic successful people do you think will continue to spend money on clothes, cars, travelling and houses? Most of them do what they do to impress people that they don’t really like but let me tell you the secret here, no one really cares as much as you think about your possessions and your status.

Everyone has their own problems and their own goals. We hear about Jeff Bezos having big homes and a big company but tell me really, do you care that much about him? It’s all about your own people, your own tribe. Start focusing on people that are important to you and stop trying to impress the world. The world forgets someone quickly after their death. How many people remember what car Steve Jobs was driving, or what house Robert Williams was living in, or where Elvis was travelling and spending his money? We all remember their impact in the world and not their possessions.

Try to make an impact with the wealth that you acquire and stop trying to impress the world. It’s your impact that remains and not your material possessions. Also, being successful is a state of mind , not the things you own. You can already feel successful without proving anything to anyone. Like attracts like, as within so without.

Feel it and believe it first before you see it. You can be a successful writer, parent, doctor, student, entrepreneur, athlete or anything. Success is not about the car that you drive or the clothes that you’re wearing, it’s the mindset that you have, the person you become.

Most people focus on these things like there’s nothing more that life can give to us. These things actually are just byproducts of following your passions, developing yourself, solving problems, crafting your talents, creating new things, being an interesting personality, helping people, exploring new possibilities, etc.

Wanting money, fame and power will require a lot of effort from your side, and usually, if acquired, are not sustainable and they slip so easily from your hands. If you turn your focus on yourself, and keep focusing on yourself and making yourself extraordinary, over time, these byproducts will be drawn to you and stay with you.

But never forget that attention, recognition and wealth can make you a target to a lot of people. All these material luxuries that you chase can put yourself in a dangerous position, which is another one reason to keep yourself humble. Pride always comes before a fall. Having some toys that bring you joy it’s okay, but having more than is needed is not only stupid but dangerous as well.

So, focus on building your personality and character, try to become more than have more, try to leave your mark in this world by the impact that you’ll make with your accomplishments instead of spending your money and energy on trying to impress people. Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.

Thank you for reading my article! I hope you found some value in it. If you did, share it with someone else. Maybe they’ll find some nuggets of inspiration as well.