AWA 20

There is only one definition of success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this definition of success? Support your position by using reasons and examples from your reading, your own experience, or your observation of others.

People define success in various terms. Some associate it with wealth, some with life, work, social status, recognition, fame and many more. In my view, the way one leads his life defines whether he/she is successful. I believe in it due to the following reasons.

Firstly, defining success on materialistic terms is the most foolish and absurd thing. A person, who is richer today, may not be rich tomorrow. History has shown enough examples in this respect from time to time. For example, when multi-billion companies like Lehman Brothers of 150 odd year’s history collapsed in the current financial global meltdown, it brought enough of high earning executives and billionaire investors to their knees. Similarly, it was shocking to know when a top fashion model of India died on the streets of Delhi last year or top-Bollywood actress of 1980’s, Parveen Babi, died in her closed apartment, the news of her death going unnoticed in her flat for 2 days.

Secondly, more than getting recognition and fame, the real success is holding onto it and it can be done only with sheer hard work and sincerity. And these two generally come when people do what they love to do. They should enjoy each moment of their life. If one cannot love what he/she is doing in his daily life, then it would be very difficult for him to drag on and sustain that life at all, eventually either giving up or succumbing to its pressure, resulting in a dull, unsuccessful, terrible life not only for him but also for her family.

Last but not the least, it is the way that an individual tries to live his life that defines him in his true self. Successful people like Mahatma Gandhi, Edison, and Abraham Lincoln led their lives in their own terms that made them great, successful and immortal forever.

Due to the above said reasons, I strongly believe that success is all about living a life in own terms and the way we want to live it, rather not that the circumstances force onto us.