Being successful? That is almost as awkward a question as asking me for relationship advice. My answer might come off as sounding a bit trite, but in my opinion, the key to success is happiness.
People have many different definitions of success. For some, it means accumulating as much money as humanly possible. And while money certainly makes the trip easier, it does not make the world go round—despite what some of the prevailing capitalist culture would have you believe. That realization changed how I viewed my professional life.
I actually realized this years ago, long before I started my current journey. As someone with an analytical mind, I know I could have pursued a career in business or economics. I might have made more money than I do as a teacher, (OK, I can guarantee that I would have) but I know, with absolute certainty, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the work. I tested the waters with substitute teaching before committing to the profession because I needed to know if it was a fit. It was. I learned then that my personal definition of success was never going to be tied to a high-paying corporate salary.
Look at me, for instance. I am a teacher—a profession not exactly known for being “upwardly mobile.” I’ve worked in a cubicle before, and while I liked the idea of leaving work behind at the end of the day, I hated the monotony of the same four walls, month after month. I am wired for the academic calendar; for better or worse, that is how I roll.
I love my job. There are days when I don’t necessarily “have it,” but I care enough to show up and do the work to the best of my ability. That goes beyond having a strong work ethic; that is actually caring about the output.
Part of that sustainability is the intentionality I bring to my downtime. “Taking off the teacher armor”—especially on weekends and over summer break—is essential to my happiness. I’ve found that a two-day weekend is the perfect amount of time for me to catch my breath. In fact, three or four-day weekends sometimes feel too long; I reach a point where I get too relaxed, and I’m ready to get back to the rhythm.
I find it telling that when I’m asked about success, my first thoughts still drift toward finances. It says a lot about the culture we live in that I have to actively remind myself that my worth isn’t tied to a bank account. Teaching victories are often small—there are no big bonuses, and raises are based on seniority and credentials—but I carry the knowledge that I have an impact on my students that I will never fully see. I’d like to think that someday, I’ll be that one teacher who stays with a student forever.
Success is a deeply subjective term. It means something different to everyone. But when you pare everything down to the core, the only way to be truly successful is to be happy—and to define exactly what that happiness entails for you personally.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
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The article “Choosing Happiness: My Alternative Definition of Success” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob
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