francene--blog. Year 2013
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Dec 14th

12/14/2013

 
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Do you measure your success by what you own? Answer truthfully. What about your car, your house, and what you eat and wear? What about getting everything just right for Christmas? Buying more and more? First, let's define what success means. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted. The gaining of fame or prosperity. Most of us can discount the latter.

The prosperous wife of the head of the Bank of England recently suggested we should all dress in organically produced clothing rather than wear a second skin of poisonous synthetics. Her selection includes jeans made from cotton grown in an organic way. The extra cost is worth it, she says. While I agree, some of us don't have the extra funds to use in this way.

In a recent survey, more than 16,000 people were asked whether they agreed with the sentence: ‘I measure my success by the things I own’. Out of 20 countries, people in the UK were ranked third least concerned with material things. Only 16 per cent of British respondents said yes - with only Spain, at 15 per cent, and Sweden, at 7 per cent, coming lower.

China was top, followed by India and Turkey. The survey found that 71 per cent of Chinese and 58 per cent of Indian people polled said they measured their status by what they owned.


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I measure my success by the lessons learned from experience. I began life as an optimistic child and grew into a presentable woman who took whatever life offered as a right. I never had to earn praise, or nice clothes or attention. Over the years, I've learned to understand how hardship affects other people—how their outlook is governed by circumstances—and how everyone needs encouragement.

Now, I don't belittle myself because I've lost my beauty, my ability to walk straight and tall, or my lack of money to maintain a good standard of clothing. I wear the same old outfits, let my hair grow long and treasure the support of my husband during our maturing years.

How do you measure your success?


Andrew ben ugodo
12/13/2013 06:48:27 pm

I dont. I believe in the future. If i measure my success by what i have now i would not be happy, even if i have all the things i want, i would still feel unhappy. So i set a base by thinking of what i want in the future and not what i have now.

Francene Stanley link
12/13/2013 09:55:56 pm

So you still want things to give you a sense of identity.

Amy link
12/13/2013 09:14:22 pm

You raise a very good question, Francene, and I, for one, really appreciate your bringing it up! Although at first blush I would say NO I don't measure my worth by the things I own/wear/have, on further reflection I think about how I feel when I'm wearing my (favorite, but old and not stylish) clothing and somebody I know walks up with something on that's brand-new and very stylish and also expensive. I do feel a momentary plummeting of my self-esteem, and so I suppose I would have to admit that yes, subconsciously at least, I'm guilty of this. I'll be working on it, though! I love your attitude, and our feelings of worth should NOT come from the physical things we have.

Francene Stanley link
12/13/2013 09:59:01 pm

I'm so glad I made you think, Amy. We are all guilty of wanting to look as good as everyone else. After all, nobody can see what we hold dear inside so how would they think about us? Maybe our expression, the love pouring from our eyes, would let them see the real person underneath.

Alana link
12/13/2013 10:57:08 pm

I have changed my definition of success over the years. Now, I lean to success meaning a person has made a positive contributions to a person's or community's life. In other words, the world is a better place because you've existed.

Francene Stanley link
12/14/2013 06:11:15 pm

I'd include that the person influenced another in a good way.

Sophie Bowns link
12/13/2013 11:37:25 pm

I measure success by personal achievements and inner happiness.

Francene Stanley link
12/14/2013 06:13:22 pm

Oh, yes. Personal achievements is a good one, as is inner happiness if it means that you accept life's trials with a positive attitude. Because, it would hard to be happy in tragic circumstances.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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