Success. We’re always looking for it, but how is it defined? Who is measuring it? And when we reach it, do we even notice?
Sometime last month I was prepping for another long day at school when I began to think about how I was measuring success. With a hundred things I needed to do, in school and out, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I knew that before the day had even started, I was feeling like a failure.
I asked myself the question, “What is the measurement of success for today?” That question really caused me to stop and think about success in a different way. So often the version of success we have in our minds is flat-out unrealistic. We are humans with a finite amount of time and energy.
We can’t do it all. We can’t be everything to everyone!
Some of us need to reread those last sentences. Let it sink in a bit…
Ok. But does that mean that every day should end with a feeling of failure, because we can’t get everything done? No.
It’s time to redefine success.
I took my question and wrote it on the top of a pad of sticky notes. It sits on my computer where I see it every time I’m at my desk. On the sticky notes underneath, I write down what success looks like for the day, and I date it. I don’t get it done everyday, but I love to think about it even if it doesn’t get written down.
Success doesn’t mean completing everything on my to-do list. That’s never going to happen when five things are added for every one I cross off. Success doesn’t mean a drastic turn around in the behavior or academic ability of every one of my students. That’s unrealistic, even for a superhero.
Sometimes, success simply means surviving the day with a smile for each of my students. Other days, success might mean responding with kindness and gentleness in all situations. Or maybe, success is if I can build a connection with just one student who is really struggling. I do my best to let God show me his version of success for my day, and that’s where I aim.
Sure, those successes I mentioned might seem small. You might ask yourself how someone can build a great career with such a small vision of success. Well, let me tell you. Great things are not the result of just one amazing success. Greatness is built one brick at a time. One day at a time. One small success at a time. I don’t have a narrow minded vision of what I am working to achieve. I am simply taking the small steps needed in order to reach a bigger goal. And I want to find JOY in the journey!
I challenge you to consider what success looks like for your day. Where does God want you to focus your attention?
Maybe you are looking for success as a parent. What will success for today look like? Maybe it is getting the laundry done and put away. You know what? That is a success! And it’s ok! Or perhaps calling this day a success means giving each of your kids some much-needed attention. If that’s the case, do what you need to do. Let the dishes go unwashed, if that means you can have the time to love on your kids.
If you’re looking for success in a relationship, don’t focus on how far you have to go. Just take the first step. If success for today is a tough conversation handled with love and patience, then let that be the first step in a journey of restoration. Then wake up tomorrow, and take the next step.
Where are you looking for success? Your career? Family? Marriage? Diet? You don’t have to be superman or wonder woman! Work hard at what God has called you to do, and let him lead you in what determines success.
Sure, we will all still have days where we fall short, where even the small goal we set goes by unreached. It’s in those moments that we have a choice. We can wallow in failure, or we can wake up the next day with a new vision of success and a new determination to give it all we’ve got.
With God’s help, great things can be achieved-- one small success at a time.
Sometime last month I was prepping for another long day at school when I began to think about how I was measuring success. With a hundred things I needed to do, in school and out, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I knew that before the day had even started, I was feeling like a failure.
I asked myself the question, “What is the measurement of success for today?” That question really caused me to stop and think about success in a different way. So often the version of success we have in our minds is flat-out unrealistic. We are humans with a finite amount of time and energy.
We can’t do it all. We can’t be everything to everyone!
Some of us need to reread those last sentences. Let it sink in a bit…
Ok. But does that mean that every day should end with a feeling of failure, because we can’t get everything done? No.
It’s time to redefine success.
I took my question and wrote it on the top of a pad of sticky notes. It sits on my computer where I see it every time I’m at my desk. On the sticky notes underneath, I write down what success looks like for the day, and I date it. I don’t get it done everyday, but I love to think about it even if it doesn’t get written down.
Success doesn’t mean completing everything on my to-do list. That’s never going to happen when five things are added for every one I cross off. Success doesn’t mean a drastic turn around in the behavior or academic ability of every one of my students. That’s unrealistic, even for a superhero.
Sometimes, success simply means surviving the day with a smile for each of my students. Other days, success might mean responding with kindness and gentleness in all situations. Or maybe, success is if I can build a connection with just one student who is really struggling. I do my best to let God show me his version of success for my day, and that’s where I aim.
Sure, those successes I mentioned might seem small. You might ask yourself how someone can build a great career with such a small vision of success. Well, let me tell you. Great things are not the result of just one amazing success. Greatness is built one brick at a time. One day at a time. One small success at a time. I don’t have a narrow minded vision of what I am working to achieve. I am simply taking the small steps needed in order to reach a bigger goal. And I want to find JOY in the journey!
I challenge you to consider what success looks like for your day. Where does God want you to focus your attention?
Maybe you are looking for success as a parent. What will success for today look like? Maybe it is getting the laundry done and put away. You know what? That is a success! And it’s ok! Or perhaps calling this day a success means giving each of your kids some much-needed attention. If that’s the case, do what you need to do. Let the dishes go unwashed, if that means you can have the time to love on your kids.
If you’re looking for success in a relationship, don’t focus on how far you have to go. Just take the first step. If success for today is a tough conversation handled with love and patience, then let that be the first step in a journey of restoration. Then wake up tomorrow, and take the next step.
Where are you looking for success? Your career? Family? Marriage? Diet? You don’t have to be superman or wonder woman! Work hard at what God has called you to do, and let him lead you in what determines success.
Sure, we will all still have days where we fall short, where even the small goal we set goes by unreached. It’s in those moments that we have a choice. We can wallow in failure, or we can wake up the next day with a new vision of success and a new determination to give it all we’ve got.
With God’s help, great things can be achieved-- one small success at a time.