The Real Prize

“The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them.”

I’ve always wondered what my life would be like, if I had gone a different route. Would the obstacles be the same? Would my frustration get the best of me? Would I feel supported by my loved ones? Would I be successful? All these questions have trickled into my mind, more often than none. Perhaps it was fear that made me choose a different route, and I wasn’t ready to be challenged. I also think that at some point in my life, I wanted recognition for what I accomplished. However, looking back through a lot of frustration and humility; success is not given by the amount of money you make, or the title that you have. Or especially by the decisions that others make for you. The real prize is when you learn to love what you do, and surround yourself with people you love.

As a teacher, I was always nervous about what others would think of me. At one point when I was starting out in this profession, I had some serious doubts. I truly did not think I could handle the responsibility of shaping a child’s life. That’s an enormous amount of pressure to have on your shoulders. As time progressed, I got better at structuring my curriculum, and assessment in the classroom and in student activities. Great! I’m the best and I’m untouchable. I think I ate a piece of humble pie, and regurgitated all of it.

I, at one time, did think that if worked really hard, my work would be noticed and I would be proclaimed the best in the school. I was young and stupid, ambitious but stupid. For sometime, I thought that achieving success would deem me as up-and-coming individual in my profession. I guess you can say I had very little character. I felt that if I had this specific title, my success would follow me and bring me joy. As time went on though, I fell off the ladder and went back to reality. And because I went back to reality, my fear and anxiety returned and I left the field that I wanted to invest in for awhile.

It is amazing what you can learn from setbacks. Being successful is something I don’t think is important anymore, as to what I thought eight years ago. If you want to categorize success, don’t compare it to finances and heart. Your heart should always come first, before your wallet.

Learning from the past, I have now learned that our perception and who we wanted to be in life, along with our goals will change. That’s okay. Through much discernment and personal reflection, our success and happiness is based on the connections that we make and lives we touch. Whatever decision we make in our life is not necessarily permanent. Our decisions take us on a journey through self-reflection to become better than what we were prior.


Whatever you choose to do, just know that doing what you love will bring you success. It doesn’t matter what profession you’re in. All that matters is that you need to know, that by being humble and leading with your soul will give you a catalyst of joy and bring clarity. Being helpful, and guiding others in need and seeing them smile… That’s the real prize.


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