What is success?

How do you define “success”? In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there are three definitions of success. The first one is, the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame. The second one is the correct or desired result of an attempt. The last one is someone or something that is successful: a person or thing that succeeds.

Many people consider achieving wealth, respect, and fame great success, but true success should be far beyond the literal meaning. In some ways, success is personal as what everyone want is not the same.

For example, the legendary basketball coach John Wooden said,” success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington said that money and power aren’t enough. She said that while we tend to think of success along two metrics—money and power—we need to add a third. “To live the lives we truly want and deserve, and not just the lives we settle for, we need a third metric. A third measure of success that goes beyond the two metrics of money and power, and consist of four pillars: well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving.” 

If you overcome your great fear, that’s success; if every time you do your best, believe in yourself, and never give up, that’s success; success is also being loved and loving others back. Success is waking up in the early morning with smile, being grateful and satisfied about what you have, and believing it’s going to be a wonderful day. No matter what kind of definition of success is in your mind, just keep going forward and don’t need to care about how others think of you. Only you can define yourself and create your own success and happiness.