What Is Success?

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much;

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

To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To give of one’s self;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived –

This is to have succeeded.

I discovered this poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson in high school. I carefully copied it out and stuck it in my wallet. From time to time I would pull it out, and see how I was doing. Whenever I struggled with feelings of failure I would pull it out. It seemed to be a simple way of gauging how successful the things where that mattered to me. Once in a while I would add a line or two as I discovered my own definitions of success. I have shared this poem with many people over the years, mostly friends who where taking a new path, or where feeling unsuccessful. As my birthday is tomorrow, I wanted to share with you.  I think this poem is a true gift.

It has led me to ask some important questions. I have had to decide what my ideas of success are. Is it the biggest house on the block? Or the fanciest car? These external “signs of success” can cost a lot; you might be forced you to work overtime and in turn, sacrifice family and creative time while struggling to keep up appearances.

This has never appealed to me. Instead I have chosen to measure my success in the last four lines of Emerson:

“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived –

This is to have succeeded.”

This clear idea of success has guided my entire life. It is why I teach, write, and laugh wile dancing in the rain. This for me, is success.

How do you measure success in creativity? Or success in life? What is the yardstick you use to measure how successful you are?