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 Of
the many suggestions offered to the Adolescent Angle, the most
frequent is the request to review the method(s) by which one garners
ultimate success in life.
The response to this time-honored question has, in
part, been written about by dozens of authors and often has been
referenced in previous Adolescent Angle columns. For example,
endeavoring to complete daily tasks and responsibilities with your
best effort contributes to your sense of responsibility to your inner
self. Additional contributing elements to augment your chances for
success are, maintaining a physically healthy being -- no drugs, no
alcohol, no cigarettes, reasonably challenging and consistent physical
workouts, healthy food, six to nine hours of sleep (particularly on
school nights) and plenty of water, likely two to three times the
amount you currently are ingesting.
However, in addition to the rather obvious elements
mentioned above, there exists a most important consideration that will
require some serious attention. The consideration of how YOU define
success. What exactly is success? What does success mean to you? Who
have been and-or remain your role models for success? Is success
defined by quality and-or quantity in your life? What is your
perception of how society evaluates success as compared to the manner
in which you evaluate and measure your own success? And, to what
degree, if any, does it matter to you if society's measure of success
is different than your own?
Success is a definable term, based upon your own
internal frame-of-reference. Success is best evaluated within the
realm of your stated mission in life. Your mission is your purpose in
life, your reason for being.
Have you recently considered your role in your family?
How about your role in school or in your community? In order for you
to establish a clear social-educational-professional direction in your
life, you will first need to develop a clear and concise mission
statement. Defining a mission statement is not always as easy as it
appears. A truly positive and valuable mission statement may first
require a careful review of your life and particularly your life
experiences.
For example, some persons believe that they must seek
revenge and retribution for painful and traumatizing experiences that
have occurred in years past. Spending one's life seeking such revenge
or retribution is ultimately pointless and counterproductive to any
aim that could otherwise be positive and helpful to yourself or
others. Once you have defined your mission in life, you are then
prepared to define the specific goals, both short term -- days or
weeks -- and long term -- months or years -- that upon completion will
have brought you to your stated objective(s).
If you are following this closely, you will come to
understand that governing your life is not at all different than
responsibly running a business -- mission statement, short and long
term objectives and completion of stated aims. If you happen to be
fortunate enough to arrive at your stated aims sooner rather than
later, you then begin to establish your next life mission and the
process begins all over again.
Until next time, please email your comments,
suggestions and opinions to rhkahil911@cs.com.
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