This month’s theme is success and your one sweet life.  Perhaps you are thinking, “Dr. Dae, we are on vacation. Success is the furthest thing from my mind right now. “ However, I think when you are in a relaxed state it is the BEST time to think about success. It is a time when you have time to really consider what success means to you. 

The definition of success is a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity. This is a broad definition, however in American culture success is usually defined by work or financial standards.  You are successful if you have a big title behind your name or you have fancy cars or homes etc. 

If you have been following my posts for the last several months, you will notice that people that live the longest, healthiest and happiest don’t define success by any of those standards.   Success, in the arena of happiness and longevity, is measured by your health and your interaction with your family and community.

So, this month I want to talk about changing your definition of success, or rather simply expanding it.  I want your definition to include your mental, emotional and physical health, because when you have those you can have financial and material success as well.

I will give you an example of what I hope you might expand your definition of success to.  I went to see my father for Father’s Day. Recently, he had back surgery and has been recovering, eager to get back to exercising so he can hang with us kids and his grandchildren.  My dad has always walked me to the car when I leave, but in the last year, he has not been able to do that due to his pain. So when it was time for me to leave, I kissed him on his cheek and started down the stairs. He called me back to wait for him as he walked me to the car for the first time in months.  He walked really well and was proud that he is getting strong enough to walk me down me the street. Now that is a success story! Having his health back is what is putting a smile on his face and causing him to proudly stick out his chest.  

Don’t you want some of that success in your life too?!  Maybe it’s not pain surgery recovery, but other types of pain, or shortness of breath walking up the stairs.  Maybe it is high blood pressure or blood sugars that you can’t get down. Or another health challenge that is plaguing you.  My message is simply this – get your health back by changing your definition of success to include your health as a goal instead of just your financial or work goals.  It will make you a happier person. I guarantee it.

To Your One Sweet Life,

Dr. Dae