Success, in my opinion, is a very individual thing.

I did enjoy the article — not sure what I would find here. A bunch of “motivational hooey?” New Age “wishful thinking?” You made some good points, especially about the importance of quality, and focusing on what we identify as “essential.”

In the US (and to a lesser degree elsewhere), it seems we are socially conditioned to be more like Human DO-ings and Human HAVE-ings than Human BE-ings. Ironically, even though we tout individuality and freedom as the most important things we have, conformity with a model based on achievement, productivity and output reigns and we’re increasingly taught how to not engage in critical thinking and analysis on a personal level.

In a broad sense, I am a “failure” because I live a happy and satisfied life with “enough” rather than eternally striving for “more.” Sometimes it is hard to keep a “success” mindset in a world whose social and economic infrastructure does not support a lifestyle choice that might be characterized as “responsible slacking.”

Indeed, prioritizing matters. And that includes stepping OUTside society’s boxes and definitions and having the courage to create your own. And you’re exactly right, many people fail because they are busy spinning their wheels doing irrelevant tasks… perhaps because they are compelled or influenced to believe that they “should” have these things on order. Well, don’t should on yourself.