Defining Success
I always feel a little weird when people ask me what I’m going to school for. There are couple reasons I feel this way. First off, I’m going to a community college. People tend to look down on community colleges or at least not think highly of them. (Although I did attend a private university for 2 years first) Secondly, I’m a music major. Or, to be more broad, a liberal arts major. I’m not going to school to land a high paying job right out of college and this idea just seems bizarre to some people.
In America, we live in a society fueled by money. Money is at the interior and exterior of every life we encounter. People spend insane amounts of money on school so that they can get a high paying job. Retailers drag family members away during holiday time. Success is equated with financial excess. We live in a, he who has the most toys wins, society. To be considered successful, you must make money. The main problem with this way of thinking, is that it is insanely prideful. Somehow we think that we can be financially secure and nothing can touch us. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Many people abandon their dreams and aspirations in search of a higher paying job. They may love music or sports but are told that the field is too difficult to get into. They may not want a career and instead are accused of being lazy. I’ve fallen under both of these categories before, far too many times. You see, I’m not really the kind of person to work a 9 to 5 job. I don’t want to be a body that exists for the sole purpose of increasing the financial success of a company that knows nothing about life or purpose.
This financial success way of thinking is hard to break. You have to realize that success is doing what you love and making a difference. If that happens to be a 9 to 5 job, then that’s great. But if you love music, then go play music. If you love to paint, then go paint a cathedral. If you love to play sports, join a team. Don’t let people discourage you from following your dreams and passions and instead encourage you to fall into the trap of financial success. Life is about investing in people not stocks. You will most likely have to work at jobs you don’t like, though, at some time. This is just part of it and is actually helpful. I’m glad to have worked dead end jobs because it has made me grown in areas I wouldn’t have otherwise.
If you’re not sure how to get to where you want to be, the first step is visualization. Don’t imagine yourself as a person not yet there, but instead imagine yourself as that person on the way there. What’s important is that you don’t give up. Often times our purposes and passions in life are some of the hardest things to achieve. They take a great deal of patience and perseverance. I believe that if you are truly passionate about something and never give up, then you can achieve it. No matter what focus on the goal and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Even though you may stumble in the dark, you will eventually get there.
Loving what you do is the key to being successful. Don’t live under the dogma of American culture and instead live your life and focus on what you are meant to do. You are the only one that can fulfill your dreams.
