There are many sides to success and power.
You can achieve all the financial success in the world, but still not be happy. Happiness comes from within and without.
As a psychiatrist and empath, I respect that everyone has different values and needs. Because of this, I know that you should never judge a person’s happiness based solely on how they appear to the world.
What does success mean to you? I have a broad definition of success – your work is only one part of it. I define success as coming from both external and internal sources, although external success alone is weak if not coupled with an internal sense of worth. Success includes both action and existence. It becomes integrated and whole.
Success is when you give it your all and then let go of the results. Whether you get the job, the relationship, or any goal, each achievement offers an elegant lesson in dedication. My Taoist teacher says, “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never succeeded.” As painful as it is, sometimes you try everything and it just doesn’t work out. Although failure can be a blow to your ego and your heart, learning to successfully deal with it without becoming hopeless or cynical is a sign of a truly strong person. Thus, success is the art of wielding power with humility and a sense of holiness so your ego will not be seduced – whether it’s family, work or anywhere.
What is power? How can you use this constructively? Power is strength. In the world, it is your ability to get things done, to impact people, to create positive change, to achieve quality of life; sometimes you just need to hold his hand. It is also command over oneself, one’s emotions and one’s weaknesses. It’s knowing that if something isn’t working in your life, you can change it. However, your strength comes from the fact that you also rely on spiritual forces within. It’s an elegant balance of being in the world but not of the world, distinguishing between the power of light and shadow – then choose which one to follow.
Success involves your ability to tap into and surrender to various sources of power, both material and spiritual, and use them for good. This is the path to contentment instead of constant frenetic pursuits.
Here are the 3 keys to success from my book, The power of surrender
- Be proud of who you are, not just what you have
- Appreciate the value of the love you offer yourself and others.
- Embody good and do good in a unique sphere of your life. No action is too small to be meaningful.
In order to gain full strength, which grows stronger over time, you have to handle the above three points in surrender, without clinging to anything. But you have to reach beyond the physical world to touch what is deep inside you. If you don’t, you’ll misunderstand that money, position, or degree is the only success that matters, the only marker that can make you feel powerful, an illusion of our linear mind, which is notoriously blind to its own limitations.
adapted from The power of surrender written by Judith Orloff MD
