Success is not what we accumulate, but who we become.
There is no mystical end point where we can say that we have arrived and that our work is done. If we are driven in any way, we will want to and we must continue to move forward. If there is no final destination where we can say that we have achieved all that we have set out to achieve, it is who we are throughout the process that matters most.
Success can be seen as either a process of accumulation or a process of self discovery. If it is a process of accumulation, whether of wealth, possessions, or accomplishments, we are reliant upon external markers for our fulfillment. We can chase them until the end of our days and, even if we acquire all of that which we seek to accumulate, we will never have enough. We will always be left wanting and needing more.
On the other hand, if success is seen as a process of self discovery, regardless of what happens to us externally, we can always find value in our experiences and the lessons therein. Success, after all, is a measure of value and worth. What is more valuable, what is worth more than experience, personal growth, and the enrichment of our lives and the lives we come into contact with?
Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.
-Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Taikyoku Mind & Body, Severna Park’s Holistic Chamber of Commerce, and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.