My Personal Success

On the topic of success, I have plenty to say. Not because I have succeed in a lot of things, but because I've failed and opened myself up to correction. As I mentioned last week that the definition of success that I found in the dictionary left a lot to be desired. My sisters did such an amazing job of opening up to us and letting us into their world and their thinking with regard to this phenomenon. I was really inspired because they all made it clear that success is not only tied to financial security, which is what most people equate success to. Here’s what I have to say about success.

From a very young age I knew that my definition of success was not the same as other people. I decided long ago that I would never subscribe to the world's narrow view of this phenomenon. Even when I was applying for university, salary packages were never a deciding factor for me. Standing a few months away from graduation I now wonder whether that was smart or not. But the one thing I wanted to avoid was to end up in a profession that I had no passion for but went with just because I’d be financially secure.

One thing that all of the ladies in last week’s blog pointed to was the fact that success is not only with regards to your career. Success can be achieved in every sphere of your life. I've always known, way before I even knew that I want to become an occupational therapist, that I was created to be a wife and a mother. I knew and was convinced at a young age that the only way my success can be tried and measured is through how I’ve poured out my life and love into others.



Success and legacy go hand in hand. Any successful person leaves behind a legacy that many aspire to. Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Caster Semenya, Zulaikha Patel. These are heroes and heroines in the eyes of many and those that have left us have left stories that are worth retelling. But we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that in order to be seen as successful, in order to leave a legacy, you need to be known by many. This is not true.

I do admit that I sometimes fall into this trap, but then I remember that ultimately, whether or not I was successful here on earth will determined by how well I fulfilled the purpose that God has placed over my life. If I don’t accomplish the good works that God has set out for me, then I can’t say that I’ve attained success.

Living in purpose. That was Beauty’s simple but exceptional answer to the question ‘what is success?’ And I couldn’t agree with her more. Have you ever gotten mad at a house appliance when it fails to do its job? Like wow vacuum cleaner, you had one job, one purpose in life but no! Cleaning the carpet is too much work for you!

How I measure my success is through how well I love God and those around me.

In Matthew 22:36-39, Jesus is asked which of the commandments is the greatest:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’


I realized that if I focus all of my energy on doing those two things properly, I will inevitably accomplish my purpose in life because my love for God will drive me to obedience and to trusting every talent He has given to me and every mission that He sets before me. By accomplishing these two things I will inevitably influence the lives that He has set out for me to touch. So when the day comes when I take my last breath, I want my legacy to be that of a woman that loved God and others well. That’s my definition of success.






I am an Occupational Therapist by profession, but I have many roles that bring meaning to my life. In short, I love people, books and love.

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