What is Success?

When I was a kid growing up, there was a fairly traditional view of success. We went to school, graduated from college, worked a 9-5 job, bought a house, raised a family, and retired somewhere between 62-65. Hoozah!

Obviously, much has changed since I was a young whipper snapper, but I think we still cling to outdated and misinformed measures of success. Get a college degree. Get a good job. Buy a house. Retire at 65. Pfft, I say!

Research shows that depression rates across the United States are historically high – and they continue to rise. In particular, depression rates have more than doubled since 2017 for young adults under the age of 30 (18-29) and now sit at ~25%. The depression rate for the general population of adults is 18%.

While there are many factors to consider that contribute to depression, I’d argue that one of them is an unrealistic view of success that puts untold pressure on people. So many of the standard success measures we grew up with in this country are simply out of reach for many young people…well, for many people. Period. And by not achieving societal measures of success, we begin to question our own value and worth.  

There’s a song I stumbled across a few weeks ago that hit me in a profound way. It’s called Hope by a guy named NF. One of the lyrics in the song is: “What’s my definition of success? Listening to what your heart says. Standing up for what you know is right.”  

Success comes in many shapes and sizes. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all description that’s been pounded into our heads by society – and excludes a large chunk of the population. Success can be big, it can be small, it can meander, it can be quiet, it can be loud, it can be a reconnection with a close friend or family member, it can be leaving a toxic relationship, it can simply be getting out of bed today.

I don’t have a boat or a plane or a motorcycle or a lake home or a mountain home. Hell, I don’t even have a job. 😄 But I think I’m successful because I have a family that loves me and that I love. I have good friends that I can trust to help me when I need it (and that I would help in a pinch). My wife and I have been able to provide a loving and caring home for our pets. My health is good.

I think it’s high time we redefine the concept of success and make it about each person’s journey and individual measure of success. In other words, we shouldn’t let others tell us what success looks like.

Recognize your own personal successes – then celebrate them.  

Until next week.

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)