Success

By Rev. Virginia Anderson

What does being successful mean? Wealth? Being the head of an organization? Owning a home?

Success is the mark of something done well. When we do something that works in our life, success will happen and from each success comes confidence; from confidence and practice comes inner strength and finally, knowing.

Is our mind going a mile a minute, planning how we’ll succeed? Are our thoughts going so fast our life becomes scattered? If the answer is yes, perhaps it is time to slow down the mind. Remember, it’s how much we comprehend, not how fast we go. It is important we don’t miss the little successes along the road to the bigger ones.

A lot of us try to be everywhere, do everything, know everything and succeed at everything…going nowhere fast! Again, slow down. The quality of life God wants for us is in the moment, not how much we pack into a day. Success means learning patience, lots of it.

Dare to dream. Remember when as a kid we all had these big dreams? No dream seemed too big back then. Some dreamed of walking on the moon, some a big-league baseball star, some a beauty queen or music star. Yes, we were dreamers as children. As we grew up many of our dreams eventually started to fade. People would say we couldn’t do the things we dreamed; it was impossible. We must be “responsible, settle, get a job and be dependable”. Sometimes we listened, and the successes we might have achieved faded into the forgotten past.

God wants us to be successful beyond our wildest dreams. We need only listen for that still, small voice of God that guides us and lets us know when the successes we seek are part of the path our soul has planned…the path of enlightenment. Just as speeding down a road so fast you cannot enjoy the scenery, so trying to accomplish too much too quickly can cheat us of sharing, love and beauty we may pass up in our zest to be somewhere. It’s not the speed, it’s how much we grow spiritually.

Learn to take some quiet time each day, and you’ll learn a profound truth—that you cannot clearly observe your goals until you quiet the chatter of your mind. Too many jumbled thoughts can actually hide the very thing you may be seeking. Let the light shine from within and let it guide you. Don’t walk around in spiritual darkness. The path to guide us to enlightenment, I believe, is meditation.

The importance of anything is only as strong as the importance we give it. How important is our life? How do we fill our days? We must be realistic and know we are each unique, with different skills and talents. We must not waste years trying to succeed at something reality tells us isn’t our divine path.

Learn to appreciate the little successes every day. Do it for yourself. Remember your life—make it something that will light your path, not obstruct it.

How successful are you spiritually? What does that mean? Go deep within for some serious introspective thought. Do you walk in peace even in the midst of upheavals and the roller coaster rides of life? Success means so many things in all areas of life including our success at being our own best friend. We can walk away from everyone else, but not ourselves. With spiritual enlightenment we can discover who our best friend is…ourselves! Success in life means earning and giving respect and trust, forgiving, avoiding anger, loving someone, faults and all. Most of all, giving unconditional love. The path is sometimes difficult, but with God, success in all these things is just a heartbeat away.

And so, again, look deep within and decide if the journey you’re on is really the path you want to travel. Change what you know in your heart needs changing, and feel the success of knowing you are on your true path to enlightenment. 

I have this poster titled “Success” that motivated me to write this article, and would like to share the profound thoughts of what success is. 

SUCCESS IS:

To laugh often and much.

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children.

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal

of false friends.

To appreciate beauty.

To find the best in others.

To leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed

social condition.

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Pastor Anderson has been a Spiritualist all her adult life and an ordained Spiritualist Minister since 1981. She founded the Spiritualist Church of Eternal Light in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband, Robert, on June 7, 2000. 702-362-6184.

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