It is often said that life is like a game of poker. Just like poker in life you can be dealt a horrendous hand yet you can find your way into immense success. Far too often we judge others and their decisions without taking into account their current situation. Furthermore we try to compare our lives with that of others without considering the variance between living situations.

Like most I was guilty of such comparison and judgement when it came to my friends. I would often times gauge my success against theirs and also pass judgment regarding decisions they made. I would often vocalize some of my displeasure about certain choices they made without taking into consideration why they made such decisions. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the error in my thinking and how wrong I was about my friends. See I would constantly judge the world under my perspective which is that of a young man that grew up in a supportive middle class two parent household. Sadly everybody isn’t fortunate to grow up like that, and once I realized this I experienced what you would call a paradigm shift.

In that moment I realized that success is different for everybody and that there is no uniform picture of success. I began to realize just how successful my friends where as they were thriving in their current situations. As a matter of fact I felt inspired because I didn’t want to get left behind. This was a wake up call for me so I knew that I had to step my game up. Looking at my friends I learned that success is not determined by material things or a fancy job title. Instead success is being able to take the hand life dealt you and refusing to allow it to define you. Society gave my friends every reason to be unsuccessful. Society told my friends they weren't, good enough, smart enough and didn't have the look to be successful. My friends refused to be bonded by what society told them and decided to go out and fight for what they wanted in life. Far too often do people let the labels society place on them define them. Complacency in one’s situation is failure in my book, what’s the point of living if you don’t refuse the confinements society place on you. My friends have taught me how to appreciate the struggles in life because from struggle comes beauty.

Embrace your shortcomings and refuse to let them define you. Never lose sight of who you are and always constantly strive to push your limits. Success is not measured by money and fame, but whether you lived up to the greatness in your name!