Depends on Your Definition of Success
As I try to stay abreast of the latest pop culture news and phenomena, I check the daily headlines in my news feed. Every now and then, a headline catches my attention and inspires a blog post. Just a few days ago, I happened upon the following headline from Forbes Magazine: "5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM."
I was especially drawn to this article because I'm a morning person. So, I perused the author's thoughts, which were in list form. I thought the list of five things was appropriate, but I had a qualm with one thing that was excluded. The thing that ought to have been on the list, but was omitted, is prayer.
An important realization came to me upon brief reflection. I realized that prayer probably wouldn't be considered by the author or editors, since Forbes is not a magazine dedicated to spiritual formation and progress. Forbes is completely dedicated to helping readers achieve success as the secular world defines it. This quick realization reminded me again that the culture around us defines success very differently than we, as Catholic Christians, ought to define success.
Let me be clear. I do think that all five of the habits listed by the author are necessary on a daily basis in order to lead a physically and emotionally healthy life. I see that my days go better when I have a clear plan, and when I complete the most difficult tasks early. I'm still working on the daily exercise thing, though. The same is true for my family life as well. At the same time, however, I have a thought about modifying at least one item on the list in order for it to be more real and substantial. I'll get to that in a moment.
While all of those five things are good and necessary, they are not the first thing that is necessary. The one thing that must come before all else is cultivating one's relationship with God, the Lord of All. Whether a person's prayer is the Divine Office (like priests), a Rosary, a Scripture reading and devotional, or a litany of prayers from prayer cards, one must make prayer a priority. Exercise and breakfast can wait for a few extra moments. Our souls and our bodies will be much better off for placing prayer as priority number one.
Now, about the modification that I suggest. The fourth item on the list is "Visualization," by which the author means spending "some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing." Beyond that statement, readers are instructed to visualize the successes of the coming day. I'm all for positive thinking and progress toward results, but I notice that this formula is quite backwards. Meditation has nothing to do with being inside my own mind. Rather, it has to do with pondering reality as God has revealed it. Meditation leads us to know Him more deeply; then we know ourselves in a better way. Finally, "visualizing my success" may place a huge obstacle between me and what God really wants of me. Visualization and meditation, rather than being about what I want, or what I think, ought to be the time that I spend asking where and how God is directing me. The line of the perfect prayer that Christ taught us is "Thy will be done," not "my will be done." The most positive and peaceful results will follow. I promise.
So, it's clear that God has a different, or at least more complete, definition of success than is laid out in the article. Let us keep that in mind as Christians as we continue to walk the pilgrim journey toward our final end. Remaining focused on our relationship with Him, zealously committed to His greatest glory, is the only recipe for success. Without those guiding principles, all the exercise and good breakfasts and forward planning become idol worship.
I was especially drawn to this article because I'm a morning person. So, I perused the author's thoughts, which were in list form. I thought the list of five things was appropriate, but I had a qualm with one thing that was excluded. The thing that ought to have been on the list, but was omitted, is prayer.
An important realization came to me upon brief reflection. I realized that prayer probably wouldn't be considered by the author or editors, since Forbes is not a magazine dedicated to spiritual formation and progress. Forbes is completely dedicated to helping readers achieve success as the secular world defines it. This quick realization reminded me again that the culture around us defines success very differently than we, as Catholic Christians, ought to define success.
Let me be clear. I do think that all five of the habits listed by the author are necessary on a daily basis in order to lead a physically and emotionally healthy life. I see that my days go better when I have a clear plan, and when I complete the most difficult tasks early. I'm still working on the daily exercise thing, though. The same is true for my family life as well. At the same time, however, I have a thought about modifying at least one item on the list in order for it to be more real and substantial. I'll get to that in a moment.
While all of those five things are good and necessary, they are not the first thing that is necessary. The one thing that must come before all else is cultivating one's relationship with God, the Lord of All. Whether a person's prayer is the Divine Office (like priests), a Rosary, a Scripture reading and devotional, or a litany of prayers from prayer cards, one must make prayer a priority. Exercise and breakfast can wait for a few extra moments. Our souls and our bodies will be much better off for placing prayer as priority number one.
So, it's clear that God has a different, or at least more complete, definition of success than is laid out in the article. Let us keep that in mind as Christians as we continue to walk the pilgrim journey toward our final end. Remaining focused on our relationship with Him, zealously committed to His greatest glory, is the only recipe for success. Without those guiding principles, all the exercise and good breakfasts and forward planning become idol worship.
