by: Maria Palma
Success, in the dictionary, is defined as, “The achievement of
something desired, planned, or attempted.” So why is success in our society
defined by the balance in your bank account, the car you drive, or how big your
house is? You are successful if you are a lawyer, doctor, or movie actor with a
six figure income. You should be able to be called a “success” when you have
been able to do anything and everything you have wanted to do in your life.
Shouldn’t success be defined as being able to do what your passion is in life?
Shouldn’t you be successful when you have achieved complete happiness? Besides
money, wealth should include your spiritual, physical and mental well-being.
There are six disciplines I learned during my life which motivated and helped
create a well-balanced and successful life for me. These disciplines include:
self, spiritual, physical, time, money, and growth.
Self discipline means making decisions regarding your life and having the
mind set to follow through with what you want to accomplish. It also means
staying focused with the task at hand and holding yourself accountable for your
actions. Become proactive in your life, persist, and persevere!
You can have everything in your life, but without spirituality everything can
go out the door. God is there to help solve your problems and be your Authority
in life. Just five to ten minutes a day meditating and praying in silence can be
the difference between a serene life and a chaotic life. Being thankful and
grateful for what God has given you can open up more doors, more opportunities,
and ultimately, more prosperity in your life.
Something most of us struggle with is physical discipline. I read somewhere
that it takes 21 days to turn an action into a habit. Eating right and
exercising on a consistent basis not only boosts your energy and helps you live
longer, it helps relieve the stresses that everyday life brings.
Time management is important in accomplishing any goal in life. It seems that
we never have enough time to do what we want to do. Remember that there is a
time and place for everything. There is a time for play and a time for work.
Prioritizing tasks and taking small steps each day will lead to success in
whatever goals you want to achieve. You must also take time each day to organize
your life. Whether it’s cleaning that cluttered bathroom counter, or filing
bills, being organized can save you time in the long run.
Sometimes I wish that money did not exist. But it looks like it’s here to
stay and we do need it to pay rent and buy food. It took awhile to become
disciplined with money. Now I have come to understand the value of the dollar
and control excess spending. I have learned to be accountable for every dollar I
spend. I have learned to give to charity no matter what my paycheck looks like.
Life is about learning and growing. Growth is developing relationships and
lasting bonds with our family and friends and learning from each other. Growth
is realizing that we are not perfect, but striving to become the best that we
can be. Growth is also realizing that we are capable of doing anything we set
our mind to and achieving our goals. God has given us all unique abilities. It’s
what we do with those abilities that will determine whether or not we will be
successful.
God has blessed me with the opportunities and the talents to do what I have
always wanted. Although some of the things I have done did not pay very well,
there was the intrinsic reward of being able to make a difference in another
person’s life. I felt I was successful in helping another human being and
someday they may return the favor.
To become successful requires a little patience. Creating wealth and success
in your life can take some time, maybe months or even years. Sweat, tears and
agony are part of the process, but well worth it.
Self discipline means making decisions regarding your life and having the
mind set to follow through with what you want to accomplish. It also means
staying focused with the task at hand and holding yourself accountable for your
Maria Palma is a writer, painter, jewelry designer, interior decorator, and
real estate consultant based in San Diego, California. She received her degree
in Psychology from California State University, Chico, but realized that she
wanted to pursue her artistic passions. She has two websites:
Salon de Maria, which showcases her
art, and Home Solutions a
resource for real estate and home decorating in the San Diego area.
