How to Measure Success

“Success isn’t measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.” – Mike Ditka, former American football player, coach and TV commentator (born 1939)

Who doesn’t hanker for success? If we’re going to be honest, we all do. But doesn’t success sometimes seem tantalizingly out of reach? This may be especially true when we’re in the early stages of recovery, but the truth is that none of us is always going to be successful the first time out. It may, and often does, require persistent effort, revisiting strategies and devising new ones, refusing to give up, and making sure we understand the lessons from previous efforts.

But what is success, in the real sense? Is it the physical attainment of a physical goal? Is it the accumulation of money or material things? Or, is it more how we feel about our accomplishments? Many recovery experts would argue it is the latter, for we can be successful without any outward trappings of what society deems success.

If we are at peace with ourselves, if we feel a sense of discipline and comfort adhering to our core values and abide by our sense of purpose, even small accomplishments fall into the success equation. In other words, we may not have much in the way of material wealth or possessions, but we’re happy in our own skin, content with who we are and what we have accomplished – remaining sober, following our dreams, helping others on their path in sobriety, working on our interpersonal skills, repairing relationships and enjoying life in recovery – we are very successful.

The next time we look at our list of things to do and worry that we’re falling short or haven’t made as much progress as we’d like, keep in mind that we can only live in the present. We don’t inhabit the past and the future will evolve on the basis of what actions we take today. Strive always to do the very best we can in whatever we do, despite any difficulties or obstacles we encounter. Learn from everything and remain hopeful that we will benefit from all of our actions. Persist, be dogged and relentless in our drive to accomplish what we set out to do, and share our effective strategies with others so that they too can find their inner peace and contentment in recovery.

As for those of us who feel we’ve already achieved all the success we’re likely to, who’s to say there’s not more ahead of us? We should never give up and become complacent about our sobriety, for time and time again such an attitude has precipitated calamitous relapse. Our being here today, clean and sober is a tremendous testament not only to our Higher Power but also to our commitment to living this life we have chosen. It is a gift we have been given, one that continues to shower benefits on us every day.