More Viewpoints on Change and Success

I attended another workshop this morning. The subject matter for this one was change and success. I've been trying to alter my views on what constitutes success. That is, success should not be viewed in solely monetary terms. There was a great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson-- one of my all-time favorite writers-- on one of today's handouts regarding the true meaning of success. According to Emerson: "What is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; That is to have succeeded." Well said, Ralph! As for the whole change thing, well, the workshop speaker emphasized the fact that that's often a lot easier said than done. She also intimated that one of the keys to creating positive change is proactivity. Appropriately enough, she used a JFK quote-- "We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch." In other words, we must seize upon the moment that an opportunity to make a change presents itself and not squander it. It's sort of, like, "Carpe Diem!" or "Seize the Day!" Most importantly, we must listen to our inner voices to give ourselves a sense of direction in terms of our career and life paths. Therefore, I'm applying all these change-making/true-success-creating tips in order to find my way in this life.