Success - Part 2
I was at a gathering several years ago and I can't remember the context of the event, but I do remember the interaction I had with someone like it was yesterday. At some point during the evening, someone standing next to me asked me a question. "Yvette, nothing difficult has ever happened to you. You have a great job, nice house, and drive a really nice car. What do you know about having a difficult life? " I slowly turned to the person and said "I just went through a divorce. What do you think?" Dead silence.
That's the thing about seeing someone from the outside. A person may look totally together and have all the material things that people equate to being successful. But there's so much more to it than what other people see. In my case, this person saw the material things, but really had no idea what I was going through underneath it all. Yes, I had those things, but I was making all the sacrifices to make sure I maintained for me and my small children - by myself - and I did struggle.
It's the tip of the iceberg that people see but they never know what's going on underneath the surface. This illustration describes it perfectly:
I am truly happy when I see our WA members post their successes. Why? Because I know it just didn't happen overnight! No matter how long it took for them to get to that point of their success - whether it's a week or a year - some serious work had to be put into getting to that outcome. It's all the turmoil that happens underneath the surface that got them to where they are - just as the illustration conveys.
It may seem really difficult sometimes to keep moving forward. But do what you need to do to reach your success - whatever that looks like for you. When you finally get there, I look forward to reading your success post.
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
~ Pele
Have a great upcoming weekend.
~ Yvette ~
Recent Comments
73
Hi Yvette,
Thanks so much for sharing a very honest truth. "We smile on the outside but cry on the inside" is such viable thing. Best wishes for great success and I know that hard work is the only way you can achieve that.
Bill
You are correct and I have done a great deal of crying on the inside through the years - trust me. I never let others see what was going on. Someone once told me I deserve an academy award. It's hard to find strength sometimes but we have to fight through it. Thanks for stopping by and for the comments.
Thanks Yvette. What you said is so true. We appreciate and respect what we have worked for. All the trials and tribulations go unnoticed to the observer. Maybe that’s why lottery winners can become such a mess.
Trevor
Trevor, thanks for stopping by and for the comments. I appreciate it. Have an awesome day / evening.
Hello,
You are so right. What is on the outside is not always what is on the inside - rarely is in fact I believe. I enjoyed your visual.
If you need any help along the way, I think you'll find there's more help out there than you could ever imagine. I'll help all I can if you ask.
Rae Anne
Rae Anne, how sweet! I will definitely keep you in mind if I run into any difficulties. Thank you so much for that. I appreciate you.
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The thing about icebergs is that if you keep chipping away at it then it will go away. There will still be the memories and the strength from overcoming but the knowledge that you never let up and never stopped will always be there.
Jerry
Thanks for stopping by and for the comments. That is true - there will forever be remnants. Have an awesome upcoming weekend.