Chris, my husband, sent me this Success Indicator last week. I am struck by many of the characteristics that are listed on this image about what makes people successful and what makes people unsuccessful. Many of the successful characteristics are similar to what we strive for in our faith life:
- Have a sense of gratitude
- Forgive others
- Accept responsibility for their failures
- Keep a journal
- Want others to succeed
- Exude Joy
- Give others credit for their victories
As we strive to deepen our relationship with God, we are seeking to develop these very same skills:
- Strengthening are sense of gratitude
- Learning to forgive and seek forgiveness
- Owning our sins and what gets in the way of our relationship with God
- Keeping a prayer journal
- Celebrating life within a community
- Radiating joy rooted in our faith
- Affirming others gifts and calls and successes
Where would we fall on this image? In the category of successful or unsuccessful people?
- Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maryellen-tribby/the-success-indicator_b_1874431.html
Becky Eldredge
Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.
Becky, I had seen this image but didn’t stop to reflect on it. Thank you for pointing out the spiritual connections.
Denise, Chris shared this with me, and he and I got in a conversation about it. As we talked, I realized how many of these are similar to what helps us in our faith lives!