Do you live a successful life, Sir ?

The recent series of suicides at KAIST have deeply shocked people including myself and today the pastor at my church (Somang Presbyterian Church) talked about success from a religious point of view.

So I felt like writing a few words about success based on past readings. I basically think people commit suicide because, first, love is missing terribly in their lives, second, because they have a distorted notion of happiness and success. You can be happy without being successful but that, I will explain it in a future post of my blog.

Success is...

Success is closing the door to your office at the end of the day with a smile of satisfied contentment crossing your face. It’s knowing that you did a good job and that those you interacted with you had a positive experience.

Success is looking forward to getting home and seeing the people you love.  Success is being loved by the people you love.

Success is sitting down to pay the bills and knowing that you have enough money to cover them this month and next month. It’s knowing you have taken measures to ensure the financial security of your family in the event of your demise.

Success is knowing where to turn when it seems that there’s nowhere to turn. Having a spiritual life is akin to eating food and drinking water. It’s necessary!

Success is having interests or hobbies to call your own. It’s things that you personally anticipates doing again and again. Having interests gives you joy and peace.

Success is waking up in the morning and feeling good. It’s knowing that you eat right and exercise regularly and that you do everything you personally can to ensure continued good health

Success is turning out the lights, slipping under the covers, and thinking to yourself, “It just doesn’t get much better than this!”


Success isn’t...

Success isn’t calling home from work for the fourth time this week, apologizing because you’re going to miss dinner with the family again.

Success isn’t hurrying into the house and hiding behind closed doors or the television set because “after the day I’ve had, I need my space!”

Success isn’t having all the riches in the world and still trying to figure out how to have more of all the riches in the world.

Success isn’t physically going to worship service and mentally writing a to-do list for when you get home

Success isn’t all work and no play

Success isn’t to explain why you have to miss your child’s school play and why you just don’t find any joy in living.