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THE MANY FACETS OF SUCCESS
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980 University of the Philippines Manila
AB Political Science
Success can have many facets. One may have personal success goals, education success goals and career goals,
all of which involve success within a context. We all share different perspective on how one deals and sees
success in an individual’s life. We have different experiences on each of our own share of attaining success. One
thing for sure, how I may define success will totally be different from any other person. For some, success may
mean earning a million pesos annually while another person might think of it as a promotion to the top
management, but to others it may simply mean achieving the goal that they have set for themselves. Definitely,
it is impossible that one thing would mean success to all people. All these things and much more can only
mean that it is diversified, thus, having many facets.
What does it really mean to be a successful person? I think it all depends on how we perceive it, but most of
the time people measure success by what others have and not by looking at one’s own skill and opportunities.
What is more important is to realize and know what it really means to you and not to someone else’s. Success
cannot be measured per se, for it is intangible. It does not follow any definite parameters of achievement. It
means achieving the goals you have set for yourself, making your life better than ever. One cannot equate
success with money or material things. Then the definition of success turns out to be more elusive as what we
imagine it can be.
As for me, the sole measure of success is how you feel after achieving your goals. It is a personal thing. My
desire to reach the realization of my goal in life and achieve it in a state of bliss is the true meaning of success.
It is not tantamount to wealth or any amount of money. You will know it when you have achieved success for
there is a different aura uncovered in your personality. It is having that unperturbed feeling deep inside you,
that is, you feel that you are in harmony with the world.
Finally, success is doing your best in what you do and it is the time wherein you can say that I have lived my life
today better than yesterday and not regret the past but sets your mind on the future ahead of you. Most of all
for a person to become a true success, one must always humble himself before God, acknowledging and
glorifying Him in his life and giving due reverence to the Mighty Creator of heaven and earth. For after all that
is said and done, at the end of the day, we will come and meet our Master, stand before Him and account
everything that we have done on earth. It will be an ultimate success to hear the Lord say to us, “Well done, my
good and faithful servant.”
Questions for discussion:
1. What is the true meaning of success?
2. How can one attain success?
3. Can success also mean overcoming one’s failure in life?
4. How can you truly measure success?
5. Can we consider success to be finite or infinite? Elaborate on your answer.