Category: Success

Michael and John are siblings who live in New York City. Michael is a successful entrepreneur who develops his retail business; he has recently purchased an apartment in the citys center and a high-quality new automobile. He is single, however, he derives enjoyment from his freedom. At the same time, John is a manager in a small company and rents a flat on the outskirts of the city. Unlike Michael, John is successfully married and has two adorable children. John loves his family and considers himself as a happy person. However, it is possible to pose a question  who is more successful, Michael or John? Although there are several similar definitions of success in the Cambridge Dictionary, the general meaning of this word may be formulated as the achieving of the results that were wanted or hoped for. Consequently, both Michael and John may be regarded as successful as they are completely satisfied with their lives. At the same time, their success may be evaluated by society in completely different ways. In general, the concept of success is not generally accepted, and it may be differently interpreted by people on the basis of their socioeconomic status, culture, and personal values and beliefs.

As a matter of fact, western society traditionally defines success as financial well-being. In other words, people who have money, prestigious job, expensive assets, such as a house and an automobile, are regarded by society as successful. From this perspective, Michael is more successful than his brother. Money and fame of businessmen, politicians, and popular actors and singers are interpreted by ordinary people as the obvious symbols of success. At the same time, this interpretation of success does not consider the persons individual characteristics and moral quality. Unfortunately, mainstream culture and mass media currently propagate the exceptional significance of money for being a successful person in the public perception, and a substantial number of people unquestioningly adopt this concept.

In turn, wealthy members of the community who are directly associated with success by the general public have another attitude to success. Successful business people see success in their goals achievement and satisfaction not only with results but with the working process as well. For instance, Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L, the founder and president of Rehab U Practice Solutions, defines success as doing meaningful (or fulfilling) work that both meets your personal or professional goals and provides enough income to support your desired lifestyle. According to this definition, both Michael and John may be regarded as successful people. While Michael successfully conducts his business that allows him to lead an independent lifestyle, John dedicates himself to his wife and children to get their love and care in return in order to feel happy.

As a matter of fact, Johns marital status is interpreted by the part of society as a sign of success as well. Despite the fact that in the United States, married people are currently the minority, a prevalent part of them believe that their families make them successful. Admittedly, married people constantly have exceptional social support, and their partners help them to overcome life challenges. In addition, they frequently have better health in comparison with single individuals as love and care have a highly positive impact on the persons cardiovascular system and memory.

Freedom may be regarded as a symbol of success by the general public as well. It is not connected exceptionally with the sphere of business and finance but with life in general. When people have an opportunity to choose activities, lifestyles, and social circles they like  they are supposed to be successful. In this case, Michael, as a free person who is not limited by financial burdens and responsibilities in front of a partner, is more successful in comparison with John who inevitably prioritizes his familys interests rather than his personal desires.

It goes without saying that modern societys generally accepted definition of success traditionally implies financial independency and expensive assets regardless of other opinions. However, from a personal perspective, success is a concept that should be defined individually by every person. For some people, success is the financial stability for themselves and their families. For others, it may be defined as a constant professional, intellectual, or physical development, acquiring of knowledge, and skill-building. While some individuals see success in the creation of stable relationships and successful marriage with a partner, others understand it as absolute freedom of action and thought. Success may be regarded not only as purchased items or obtained positions but as a process of self-improvement. In addition, people are frequently distinguished as an essential component of long-term success, especially in the sphere of business and finance. Moreover, any person may redefine his or her definition of success during life due to specific circumstances. Nevertheless, despite the substantial diversity of its definitions, there is one common characteristic of success that unites all perceptions  success should bring joy and satisfaction.

While success is very much desired and admired, it has been known to cause some negative effects. People tend to regard successful people with high regard and respect and successful people such as doctors, business owners, sports personalities, musicians, and people from other professions are regarded with great regard. However, some successful people pay a price for their success. This paper examines the negative effects of success.

Biro (2001) comments that there are two types of negative effects that success brings, how a successful person perceives himself and how another views such a person. The author points out that in the former case, the successful person becomes complacent and success goes to the head. In such a case, the person would start behaving self importantly and rudely with others and treat them like dirt. Such behavior tends to put off people and close friends and within no time, the person would not have any genuine friends but only self-interested people who would want to exploit the success of this person for their own ends. In such cases, the person would tend to be egoistic, ignore his work and profession and in no time, there are chances that he would lose his expertise and skill, and then success, recognition, and respect would go away. Such people become withdrawn, remorseful, and are not able to adjust to their new status and become mentally wreaks.

Biro (2001) also points out that in some cases, well-adjusted successful people, who behave normally and do not let success go their head would suddenly find that they are objects of envy by less competent people. These people would resent the success that a person has got and would be mean, spiteful, and try to get even or attempt to find ways in which the success would go away. At times such behavior can get out of hand and the very life of the successful person would be at risk.

These two conditions bring up the question if success is undesirable and if it would be better to be mediocre and not be successful at all. The answer is a definite No. One should try hard and achieve success but success should not go to the head and create needless resentment among friends by adopting brash and rude behavior. At the same time, successful people should not be unduly worried about jealous and mean people and there would be several in this world and one cannot keep such people happy.

ICT (January 16th, 2008) reports that many Americans resent the educational and financial success of Asian Americans who work hard, save and invest wisely to gain status and respect among their peers. The report suggests that some people feel threatened by the success of Asian Americans and this causes conflicts and fights. Such feelings are not good for both groups and while Asian Americans should not stop studying, they should attempt to modify their behavior and conspicuous consumption and at the same time, Americans should attempt to study and work harder.

Informis (2007) has reported that when inventors and research scientists achieve success, they begin to feel that their goal is reached and creativity skills start getting eroded. The report points out that such feelings and compliancy and negative effects of success should be removed and people should build on their success to achieve more.

The paper has examined the negative effects of success and points out that negative effects include the person becoming arrogant, brash, and show disrespect to other people and thus create enemies and he would ultimately lose his skills and success. The paper also points out some jealous people tend to resent the success of others. Therefore, successful people need to take a balanced view of their success and work on their skills to achieve more results.

References

1. Biro Brian D. 2001. Beyond Success  The 15 Secrets to Effective Leadership and Life Based on Legendary Coach John Woodens Pyramid of Success. Perigee Trade; 1st Perigee edition
2. Informis. 2007. Inventors Must Counter the Negative Effects of Success on Creativity.
3. ICT. 2008. Asian-Americans success increasing negative attitudes towards them.

The case of Sir James Dyson demonstrates that the opportunity or freedom to make mistakes is vitally important for learning for the following reasons. First, learning from ones mistakes is the fastest way of learning, and one should trust their mistakes rather than their experience as Dyson has learned when he was working for Jeremy Fry. Second, each improvement in the thing that one is doing comes as a result of correcting a mistake: for instance, in Dysons case, he upgraded his vacuum cleaner each time when he identified a mistake, which has made the model much better than the initial project (Nelson & Quick, 2012, p. 232).

As Sir James Dyson has shown, if one is allowed to make mistakes, it also leads to the improvement of their performance. The reason for such a relation is that, when a person has enough independence to make mistakes, it means that they also have enough independence to correct their mistakes, and they are responsible for the final result. It makes them motivated to learn from mistakes and strive to improve the overall result. When Jeremy Fry put Dyson in charge of manufacturing, he knew this relation and knew that Dysons performance level would be high (Nelson & Quick, 2012, p. 232).

As well as pretty much everyone in our society, Sir James Dyson surely knows about the problems with employment that recent college graduates often face, especially the dilemma between a high-paid but not an interesting job and a job related to their passion. To my belief, Dyson would advise college graduates to avoid the former and choose the latter. Using his case as an example, Dyson would tell them that their success at their job depends on their motivation and hard work. At an uninteresting job, motivation is low, and it is not easy to make oneself work hard while a favorite job would keep motivation and performance on a high level.

Sir James Dyson could give valuable advice to the professionals, who are responsible for training employees and evaluating their performance. His advice could contain the following recommendations:

1. value and respect the freshness of the sight of the employees since they can discover or do something the experienced professionals could not do;
2. give them some room for making mistakes and an opportunity to correct these mistakes by themselves, without help, since it is the only way for them to learn well and quickly.

References

Nelson, D., & Quick, J.C. (2012). Organizational behavior: Science, the real world, and you (8th ed.). Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.

The success or failure of a particular movement depends on various aspects. Some of these entities become popular and admirable because of their effort to bring positive change in society, resist or fight against social injustices, or become involved in initiatives to promote individual well-being. Incidentally, some movements have emerged only to wither and eventually collapse. It is because of the shortage of financial and social support, lack of a clear and effective campaign strategy, and pressure from either the society or the political class.

The Livestrong Foundation, established in 2003 by Lance Armstrong, is the recent popular movement (Livestrong, n.d.). I firmly believe the foundation has become preferable to many people across the country and even beyond. It is a result of its noble cause of raising awareness and money for cancer care. The disease is a critical issue, which affects almost every American family. The movement also gained popularity from being established by Lance Armstrong, a successful athlete and celebrity. In 2004, the campaigns most tremendous success occurred when colorful, bright yellow bracelets were offered for sale as a fundraiser with the name LiveStrong on them (Livestrong, n.d.). The organization has become a stable business by expanding to selling clothing with the companys branding.

By transforming the organization into a lifestyle, most people purchase the companys clothes and goods through verbal communication; thus, the organization itself has not made much effort in advancing its cause. In general, I strongly believe the Livestrong campaign has been effective in raising awareness and financing for the cancer treatment and prevention research initiatives around the world. Despite this, the organization has had little impact on social change, and not many people know about its existence or the kind of business the company is involved in.

Reference

Livestrong. (n.d.). Web.

Success and failure are widespread phenomena that occur in virtually any form of human activity. Both aspects can have both positive and negative effects on a person, so the issue of influence is particularly important. The purpose of this essay is to compare success and failure and how it affects the individual.

Emotional experience

A person regularly faces both success, usually improving their self-esteem, and failures that make a person droop. However, it is essential to understand that success and failure can have an ambiguous effect on the individual (Rosi et al. 1). Usually, people are happy when they are successful at work or in school. On the other hand, success can have a devastating effect on a persons emotional state if a person does not want to reach summits. Failures can have a positive impact on emotions if they are not too severe for the person. Although failures are more likely to ruin a persons ambition.

Opportunities for growth

Successor failure can hardly make a person grow in the right direction. Success at work or school can encourage a person to think that they are right in the chosen strategy. However, success can sometimes play a negative role: a person often gives in to excessive perfectionism to achieve maximum efficiency. Failure can serve as a powerful impetus for human development. Having failed, a person can become stronger if they find strength (Rosi et al. 5). However, failures cause people to be disappointed in their strength, inhibiting their further growth.

Personal Relationships

Failures and successes that people face throughout their lives can radically change their relationships with others. For example, a persons successful path allows them to establish more useful contacts. Thus, a successful person can always find help from other people. On the other hand, by investing all available resources to be successful, the person can destroy the built relationships and connections with people. Failure can also stimulate positive relationships: in times of collapse, people can find support in others. Most often, a failure forces the person to be aggressive. In a fit of rage, they can hurt their loved ones by destroying their relationship with them.

In conclusion, it would be desirable to note that it is wrong to unambiguously approach the analysis of the impact of success and failure on peoples lives. Being the motivators or demotivators, success and failure can contribute to the professional and creative growth of man or, conversely, lead him to frustration.

Work Cited

Rosi, Alessia, et al. The Impact Of Failures And Successes On Affect And Self-Esteem In Young And Older Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, vol.10, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-10.

Introduction

Religion is integral to the socialization and development of children. It shapes their conception of the future and determines their willingness to work toward achieving specific goals. Religion can help children believe they have a future, as will be demonstrated in the presented argument. Religion can influence a childs view of the future, given its impact on the environment in which a child grows. Most contemporary programs for teens are designed to improve future prospects through means such as completing education and gaining access to meaningful employment. While the strategies mentioned above have merit, there is a need to emphasize spiritual beliefs because their focus on qualities such as hope and redemption adds value to a childs life. The application of religious concepts is integral to a childs development because it equips them with the skills they require to succeed in a competitive environment.

Religion and Child Development

The focus on the impact of religion on the development of children and its overall effects on their future success has been the focus of intense scientific scrutiny. Research has demonstrated that parental religiosity is associated with enhanced interpersonal skills, self-control, limited self-internalizing behaviors, and positive learning styles among children (Bartkowski et al., 2019). It is vital to note that religion is a valuable asset in promoting positive child development, especially in households plagued by social disadvantage (Bartkowski et al., 2019). It is worth noting, however, that religion does not produce uniformly positive outcomes for youth and children. For instance, familial arguments regarding religion are associated with detrimental psychological adjustment and socialization, even when other causes of spousal arguments are considered (Bartkowski et al., 2019). The disadvantages notwithstanding, the beneficial effects of religion outweigh its perceived weaknesses.

It is vital to consider the factors that amplify the effects of religion on children. Religion fosters the belief that one is committed to a specific set of morals (Sarchami et al., 2020). It fosters the development of strong bonds between children and their parents. As a result, religion and spirituality play important roles in the lives of the young, given the fact that religious institutions sanctify domestic bonds by imbuing them with special meaning (Bartkowski et al., 2019). The power of religion lies in its ability to impart spirituality to a wide variety of earthly concerns. Therefore, it is possible for parents to use it as a resource for enhancing cohesion and pursuing specific goals, many of which are tied to an individuals eventual success. It is worth considering the fact that the aforementioned benefits are mainly seen in single-faith homes. The effects are significantly different in mixed-faith households, where children often have poor developmental outcomes.

Bartkowski et al. (2019) sought to objectively evaluate the impact of parental religiosity on child development outcomes in a nationally representative sample of third-grade students. Bartkowski et al. (2019) hypothesized that parental religious involvement has the capacity to influence their childrens psychological development and social competence, given the high prevalence of family relationship sanctification in numerous denominations. However, outcomes that are beyond the confines of familial sanctification, such as academic performance, would be mildly affected by religion.

Religion plays a critical role in facilitating the advancement of childrens faculty judgments. The development of childrens factuality judgments, which refers to their ability to distinguish between mental and physical entities or probable and improbable events, has attracted significant scientific scrutiny. Studies have demonstrated that children from religiously devout families often believe that religious narratives are realistic, while those from less devout families view them as stories (Kotaman, 2018). The perception of religious stories as realistic is associated with a higher adoption of the principles emphasized in the narratives. As a result, children are likely to embrace such values and incorporate them into their lives and quest for success.

Religious beliefs should be emphasized because, in addition to teaching hope and redemption, they prepare individuals to live in and deal with the challenges that characterize a multicultural society. Amiel et al. (2019) note that religion is an important tool for the emphasis of diversity through the provision of an avenue for children to conceptualize variations in worldviews. Social skills are integral for cohesion in a diverse society. In addition, they facilitate the cultivation of meaningful relationships as well as a healthy respect for personal values.

Religion often encourages and facilitates the congregation of individuals in groups. Discussing other peoples values and religious beliefs equips the youth with the skills they require to prevent hatred and prejudice (Amiel et al., 2019). The exploration of the challenges within and across religious entities can educate children on the need to respect and understand different traditions and values and the impact they assert on individuals and societies. According to Amiel et al. (2019), religious education allows students to identify higher purposes in life as well as social support in life, which are essential for success. It is also worth noting that the social support an individual receives from participating in religious activities promotes their mental health. Amiel et al. (2019) further note that participation in religious activities is associated with heightened self-esteem as well as low incidences of substance abuse.

Education Outcomes

Religion has a significant impact on most childrens education outcomes. According to Horwitz et al. (2021), moral directives are the first dimension through which it creates change. Moral directives refer to religious teachings and texts highlighting specific guidance concerning personal virtue and self-control (Horwitz, 2021). Its worth noting that the aforementioned directives are based on long historical narratives and traditions. Children who internalize moral guidelines can use them to inform life choices and ethical behavior. In addition, they are equipped with the skills required to make decisions in challenging situations as they work their way to success. The development process is characterized by making decisions that shape ones life. Horwitz et al. (2021) note that religion provides substantive normative standards and guidelines that direct childrens decisions and practices. The link between moral directives and academic success stems from the former discouraging engagement in risky behaviors such as the consumption of drugs and alcohol (Horwitz, 2021). In addition, morally upright children tend to be more agreeable and conscientious, which are associated with desirable academic outcomes.

The most direct link between educational success and religious practice is access to opportunities provided by congregations for parents and their children. The prevalence of religious beliefs in a family setting is likely to foster the development of strong ties. The resultant elevation in parent-child interaction is likely to improve the chances of accessing quality education. There are educational prospects outside the school setting that are provided by religious institutions that increase a childs chances of success (Esih, 2020). For instance, some churches provide children tutoring and organize educational trips to museums and parks. It is also worth noting that participation in religious activities increases learning opportunities, given the academic nature of some activities, such as bible reading, discussing scripture, and singing in the choir (Isnaningsih & Rohman, 2020). The religious context also indirectly reinforces the value of learning by the value religious institutions place on reading and interpreting the gospel. The fact that religious leaders are expected to study prior to preaching motivates children to embrace education.

The participation of children in religious congregations increases the civic skills they require for active participation. Childrens sense of belonging from participating in group activities is essential for their development. Their involvement in religious activities increases their organizational and social skills and makes them adept at speaking and writing. It is also worth considering that increased participation enhances the connection children have with learning institutions, which improves educational outcomes among religious children.

The association between religion and specific mannerisms associated with success is well-established. Horwitz et al. (2021) quote scientific studies demonstrating that religion was associated with specific prosocial behaviors. The first is compliant prosocial behaviors, which refer to helping when asked, altruistic traits; and anonymous prosocial behavior, which refers to providing aid in scenarios where nobody is watching. The studies demonstrate that deeply religious children are eager to offer assistance. The second is the social dimension, which is the social capital and networks that result from relationships generated with an adult through interactions in religious communities.

Social capital highlights the resources, opportunities, and information children in religious circles gain when developing relational ties with role models. Shaver et al. (2020) demonstrate that church attendance is positively correlated with social support as well as access to aid from other congregants. As a result of the aforementioned links, children are inclined to seek opportunities and utilize the resources provided to them by adults. This means that these children are in a better position to get the assistance they need with their homework, get access to summer jobs, and participate in competitive programs (Horwitz, 2021). Evidence indicates that children who have opportunities to access an adults help when it comes to academic challenges tend to perform well at school.

Religion facilitates the development of social capital, characterized by the reciprocity and trust required for childrens success in the future. It is worth considering that disenfranchised families may lack the social contact and networks required to reach their full potential. Religion plays a critical role in mitigating social capital deficits in various contexts. An individuals active involvement and participation in a congregations activities provide opportunities to access vital information and establish good values (Cinantya et al., 2018). The facilitation of interactions between diverse groups of people allows for establishing connections to individuals capable of providing alternate sources of educational information that may help children develop personal goals. Regular participation in church-led activities increases the chances that an individual will find out about good educational institutions and the value of higher education in securing sustainable employment and meaningful employment opportunities. In addition, parents often come into contact with individuals who can explain the operation of school systems and the techniques required to negotiate a childs academic career. Such opportunities equip parents with the skills to propel children to professional positions.

Network closure is a vital aspect associated with religious communities. It refers to the additional influence and oversight accorded to children by non-parental adults (Horwitz, 2021). The participation of children and adults in religious congregations is associated with the development of robust network closure with friends, teachers, and other parents. The highlighted relationships are likely to exist among individuals with identical moral and cultural views leading to high levels of cooperation in social control and oversight. The result is the creation of conditions for enhanced support and supervision of individuals, which leads to the expression of behaviors primarily considered prosocial and relevant in normal development. According to Horwitz et al. (2021), there is a high possibility that children who form their social networks through religious institutions maintain the organizations moral directives.

Childrens participation in a congregation enhances the development of network structures essential for transmitting values from one generation to the next. It is often the case that congregational contexts provide opportunities for parents to know their childrens friends parents, thus establishing a form of social control that ensures children maintain high academic standards (Safitri, 2022). Network closure is vital in view of the fact that it facilitates the development of identities and promotes the development of values such as responsibility and respect for parental authority. Congregations are also an important avenue for recruiting individuals willing to participate in the activities of civic organizations, which play critical roles in the local community. There are numerous benefits that a child gains from participating in the activities of a community-based institution. For instance, they have opportunities to interact with diverse populations, which increases their access to the information necessary to make good educational and career choices. In addition, children stand a higher chance of gaining access to community resources such as libraries, museums, and other educational institutions that directly affect a childs success.

Children who adopt religious principles are less likely to be truant. Horwitz et al. (2021) outline studies that demonstrate that religiously committed students are less likely to abscond from their lessons. It is worth considering the fact that the link between heightened religiosity and reduced truancy is determined based on correlational analysis. Horwitz et al. (2021) surmise that moral directives may play a central role in explaining why religious children are less likely to be truant. It is worth considering the fact that truancy and academic performance are related in view of the fact that an increased frequency of class attendance is associated with desirable academic outcomes.

A significant number of studies have demonstrated that religiously inclined children have aspirations to complete their education. Horwitz et al. (2021) assert that participation in church activities is associated with positive expectations regarding education expectations. These individuals are also more likely to express an interest in attending college because they view it as a realistic option. Early religious education is essential in view of the fact that it shapes characters. During these formative years, individuals develop their personalities and numerous moral and religious values that will guide them through life.

Mental Health

A childs mental health is inextricably tied to his or her success in the future. Adverse experiences in childhood often affect individuals in their adult lives. Walton (2018) notes that Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a study in which children raised in religious households were found to have better mental health as they grew older. The researchers also noted that children who prayed on a regular basis experienced similar mental health benefits, including reduced risk for substance abuse and depression. Walton (2018) highlights that the study demonstrated that children who attended service at least once a week were 18% more likely to report being happy in their 20s than those who did not attend services. In addition, such children were 30% more likely to engage in volunteer work and 33% less likely to engage in undesirable behaviors such as the consumption of drugs and alcohol (Walton, 2018). It is vital to note that the experience of happiness and decreased depression was tied to the degree to which the children internalized religious content rather than the mere attendance of services. For instance, the researchers noted that individuals who prayed and meditated on a regular basis experienced a higher degree of life satisfaction, were better equipped to process emotions, and were more likely to forgive others (Walton, 2018). In addition, as mentioned earlier, the individuals were less likely to engage in unprotected sex, thus significantly reducing the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

There have been a number of studies in the past that have highlighted the existence of a link between religion and overall happiness. According to Walton (2018) researchers have proven that more religious people often experience a higher degree of happiness, and individuals who believe in the existence of a higher power are often better equipped to deal with stress. It is hypothesized that during meditation and prayer, the parts of the brain that are active when one thinks about self-referential worry-based ideas are silenced (Walton, 2018). In addition, the section of the mind that perceives the external world as separate also goes quiet. As a result, a childs tendency to think of themselves is reduced, as is the overwhelming sense of separateness.

Hope and Redemption

Many youth programs focus on empowering individuals with the skills required to complete education and gain access to meaningful employment to safeguard their futures. While the aforementioned strategies are beneficial, there is a need to emphasize spiritual beliefs because their focus on qualities such as hope and redemption equips children with the skills they require to navigate the complexities of life. It is important to explore the foundational nature of these concepts while underscoring their relevance in a childs chances of success in the future.

Research has demonstrated that hope is a psychological strength, especially among children forced to deal with adverse life conditions. According to Savahl (2020), hope is linked to subjective well-being, life satisfaction, and improved quality of life among children. The concept is defined as a cognitive-motivational construct that focuses on the development of goal-oriented behavior and embodies ideologies such as faith, empowerment, and resilience (Savahl, 2020). It is best explicated in the academically revered theory of hope. Snyders theory makes special considerations for the development of hope in children. It posits that goal-directed hopeful thoughts are experienced in the first few years of life (Savahl, 2020). The manner in which children are able to appraise and make sense of their ability to address challenges and overcome obstacles are important aspects of normal development.

Snyders theory of hope is essential in view of the fact that it proposes a cognitive model that proposes the value of pathways, goals, and agency. According to the theory, individuals are goal-oriented, and hope helps them to conceptualize their perceptions regarding their abilities, which is essential for formulating precise goals (Savahl, 2020). In addition, children can formulate specific strategies to achieve the developed objectives and emphasize self-related beliefs regarding the initiation and sustenance of measures designed to achieve the desired goals (Savahl, 2020). Snyders theory of hope is based on cognitive assessments. It proposes that children with high levels of hope are often efficient in pursuing set objectives and often experience high positive emotions (Savahl, 2020). It is also worth pointing out that children with low levels of hope face numerous challenges regarding achieving goals because they face various obstacles that increase the incidence of negative emotions.

Redemption plays a critical role in the future success of a child. Bauer et al. (2019) define a redemption sequence as a narrative evaluation of life conditions that change from bad to good (p. 548). These sequences are linked to an individuals well-being, especially in the context of traumatic experiences. According to Bauer et al. (2019), redemption narratives are grouped into five distinct categories namely, recovery, sacrifice, growth, learning, and improvement. The fact that religion emphasizes the concept is beneficial for children because they learn the value of transitioning from bad experiences to good ones and incorporate such beliefs in achieving specific goals and objectives.

Hope and redemption are integral for success among religiously inclined children. It should be emphasized, however, that the concepts do not impact individuals in isolation. There are a myriad of factors that come into play in the determination of a childs chances of experiencing a bright future. It is vital to incorporate the concepts in programs designed to help youth thrive to provide a holistic and comprehensive guide that facilitates the achievement of set goals and objectives.

Conclusion

The internalization of religious concepts is vital for a childs development in view of the fact that it equips them with the skills they require to overcome challenging situations. The adoption of religious principles is associated with enhanced interpersonal skills, self-control, limited self-internalizing behaviors, and positive learning styles. In addition, participation in religious activities increases access to social capital, which is vital for developing networks that are integral for academic achievement. It is evident that in addition to mental health and behavioral benefits, religions emphasis on hope and redemption is necessary for the experience of success in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate religion into childrens daily lives because it significantly increases the odds of experiencing success.

References

Amiel, C., Estrada, M., Fe, M., Lomboy, T. C., Gregorio, E. R., Amalia, E., Leynes, C. R., Quizon, R. R., & Kobayashi, J. (2019). Religious education can contribute to adolescent mental health in school settings. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 13(28), 16. Web.

Bartkowski, J. P., Xu, X., & Bartkowski, S. (2019). Mixed blessing: The beneficial and detrimental effects of religion on child development among third-graders. Religions, 10(1). Web.

Bauer, J. J., Graham, L. E., Lauber, E. A., & Lynch, B. P. (2019). What growth sounds like: Redemption, self-improvement, and eudaimonic growth across different life narratives in relation to well-being. Journal of Personality, 87(3), 546565. Web.

Cinantya, C., Suriansyah, A., Master Program, A., & -paud, P. (2018). the model of religion-based character education (multi-site integrated Islamic Paud Sabilal Muhtadin and Paud Islam Mawaddah Banjarmasin, Indonesia). European Journal of Education Studies, 0(0). Web.

Esih, E. (2020). Formation of childrens character through instilling moral and religious values in early childhood. Golden Age: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 4(1), 3844. Web.

Horwitz, I. M. (2021). Religion and academic achievement: A research review spanning secondary school and higher education. Review of Religious Research, 63(1), 107154. Web.

Istianingsih, A., & Rohman, A. (2020). Intervention of religious activities instills the character of the responsibility in early childhood to welcome revolution 4.0. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education (ICLIQUE 2019), 3444. Web.

Kotaman, H. (2018). Comparison of impact of religious and secular education on young childrens factuality judgments. International Journal of Childrens Spirituality, 23(4), 358379. Web.

Safitri, E. (2022). Implementation of the development of moral religious values in early childhood through modeling methods. Early Childhood Research Journal (ECRJ), 5(1), 3142. Web.

Sarchami, R., Rajaei, S., & Aalaei, S. (2020). Evaluation of the relationship between religious beliefs and academic achievements of dental students. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9(1), 15. Web.

Savahl, S. (2020). Childrens hope in South Africa: A population-based study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(1023), 17. Web.

Walton, A. G. (2018). Raising kids with religion or spirituality may protect their mental health: Study. Forbes. Web.

Samuel Clemens better known by the pen name Mark Twain speaks best about the American experience through is distinctive literary voice, and through his classic writing skills. His familiarity with local culture and use of local dialect, and his life experiences in the heart of America helped make his writings be American and helped create the American experience. Twains humorous writing quality, accomplished by over exaggeration, brought him to be one of the finest American fiction writers of his era. Regional language and slang were just a few of his techniques used in capturing the local color of the United States, and they helped win his way into the hearts of thousands of people.

Hailing from a river town called Hannibal, Twain was no stranger to the ways of the country and river. Quite often his narratives were based on his own experiences in this setting. The use of a regional dialect like in The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was more enjoyable for the public to read and was also more towards their standards of reading.

Twains stories gave smiles to thousands of depressed people. Humor in his stories was used partly because it was his way of writing but also because during those times America was going through great suffering and was in need of relief from the civil war. People found relief in Twains stories. Through humor in his writings, Twain eased the pains of America and also made himself a popular literary figure of the time.

Twains famous story The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is about a man in Calveras County who was known for betting, and losing. He even raised animals with which he could bet and one such animal was his jumping frog. The narrative is told from the mans friends point of view, Simon Wheeler. Wheeler tells us all about Jim Smileys past antics and other, possibly false, stories about him. This story many people found interesting because of the dimness of the text. In this story, Twain perfectly captures the local dialect and traditions of the people in the west in his era and his writing makes fun of small town people.

Twain loved to know about people. He traveled through out America experiencing much of the country, the life and the people, and writing things down as he went along. He used his experiences as the basis for his writings and since they were based on truth, spoke of America, and included humor, were a great success and still stand as American classics today.

Twain wrote about what it was to be an American. Apple pie, baseball, cornfields for miles, all American icons, were included in his writings. He spoke of what it was like for a child in this country, skipping school, down by the river, images familiar to everyone, especially to Americans. He talked about their relationships their hardships dealing with life, and all the time in his distinctive literary form that we have come to love.

Twains success in writing came due to the fact that he wrote of the truths and tribulations of a country, using humor and narration, to captivate audiences, and those stories are the ideal image of what it is to be an American.

Introduction

There are different perspectives of success. The term success has diverse meanings for different individuals. For instance, certain people attribute the level of monetary reward to success. However, one basic fact is that everyone yearns to attain success. People have associated various achievements to success. Several people fail because they do not understand the meaning of success. In order to be successful, individuals have to clearly define their objectives (Gitterman, 2009). This is regardless of the context in which success is to be achieved. Many philosophical inquiries on the topic of success are notable. World political leaders, celebrities, warlords, and scholars have frequently been regarded to be successful. However, the most important fact is to determine the essential meaning of success. This paper examines the different meanings of success.

Meaning and the Process of Achieving Success

The understanding of success depends on the ability to attain it. An improperly defined goal may not be easily achieved. Therefore, in order to be successful, individuals must comprehensively define their course (Gitterman, 2009). This concept also applies to organizations and entities. The initial step to ensure success is to properly define success itself. Imperatively, people must establish their coordinates accurately. This is important because it enables the accomplishment of intended destinations. An analysis of ancient philosophical thoughts on the issue of success is critical. Notably, action has been regarded as the introductory key to success. Therefore, every person must actively endeavor towards achieving their defined goals. Ideally, this defines the level of success amongst individuals. Other vital aspects that have been associated with success include effort, ability and courage.

There are diverse important ingredients for success. Some of these include talent, luck, as well as labor. Many scholars have indicated that the path to success and failure almost remain inseparable. In order to prevent failure, people must identify the important factors of success. Interestingly, there are observations that only successful persons can define these factors. The role of failure in creating a platform for success is notable. Most successful people have emphasized on the importance of failure to success. It is vital to examine the sentiments of various prominent personalities on the issue of success. Sir Winston Churchill had important beliefs on the aspect of success. According to him, success refers to moving from failure without loss of enthusiasm (Gitterman, 2009). Observably, success without incessant growth or progress holds obsolete meaning.

People must know how to recognize their success and failures. In attempting to achieve this, a definition of success is appropriate. Success has been defined as a progressive achievement of preset, worthwhile, individual goals. The concept of success has been attributed to several things. Some of these include love for self and for one another. Generally, success remains as an intricate and contextual issue.

Conclusion

The issue of success has elicited diverse opinions from personalities. Evidently, there is no definite scale or system for measuring success. Most people have recognized the importance of keeping personal integrity and moral value. This is because the desire to succeed might make individuals to commit immorality. To ensure success, a clear definition of objectives is necessary. Indeed, success remains as an intricate concept. The meaning of success is variable and largely depends on different contexts. There is need to conduct more investigations into the concept of success.

Reference

Gitterman, J. L. (2009). Beyond success: Redefining the meaning of prosperity. New York, NY: American Management Association.

Success can be defined as an accomplishment of a set goal or purpose. There is another definition of the word as the meaning varies from one individual to another. Several people tend to measure it based on generally what one owns. There are always no secrets to achieving ones goals, but it all involves enough preparation, hard work, and learning from mistakes or failures encountered (Mensah, 2021). It also requires a lot of preparation, and there can be failures; therefore, one uses the failures to improve and create strategies to accomplish the set goals. Therefore, it can be generally described as accomplishing the set goals, accepting whatever one has, and being happy.

It also entails developing clear aims or goals that one needs to accomplish after a stipulated time. When one has set goals, one tends to be more successful than one who does not have any goals or aims to accomplish. On the other hand, these goals cannot be achieved without enough commitment and motivation. Some people fail to succeed or accomplish their goals because they do set goals that are not realistic.

As a result of cultural conditioning, people are taught to place a high value on material wealth to achieve happiness and success. Most people think that having a lot of money is a must for one to be an achiever. In the minds of some, the accumulation of riches is seen as the key to achieving feelings of self-satisfaction and power. They devote their whole lives to accumulating riches, which may develop into an unhealthy preoccupation for them. Moral ideals may be sacrificed for the sake of monetary gain. Their actions may bring them financial success, but they often compromise their emotional relationships. Consequently, even if they are financially successful, they may still feel alone or dissatisfied, which is a failure symptom. There is also a notable connection between success and happiness. Happinness is not just a feeling but also it needs practice (Adams, 2022). Achieving well-being should be the ultimate goal of riches; if one is successful materially but unhappy, then that success is incomplete. As a result, success must be defined as the contentment that follows a goals accomplishment.

Due to the widespread belief that wealth and material possessions do not guarantee success, many people consider wealth a meaningless measure of success. However, some believe that having a lot of money is associated with achievement. A persons desire for wealth will only increase if raised in a household without sufficient financial resources. The realization that you cannot retain what you do not give away is an essential component of achievement; it is not enough to fulfill all of your needs and desires to be successful. It is not important how high you have climbed; how many others one has helped accomplish their goals is important. It is impossible to achieve success without contributing to the achievement of others.

In conclusion, it is impossible to provide a single, all-encompassing definition of the concept of success. Individuals who strives to achieve it will have their unique definition of what it means to be successful. Everyone aspires to accomplish their set goals. Many people find that the path to achieving is arduous and meandering, yet this path does not have a definitive endpoint. Setting new objectives consistently is essential to continue ones previous level of achievement. Accomplishing a persons objectives is the only way to reach and sustain true accomplishment.

Work Cited

Adams, P. (2022). The Hub: A Place for Reading and Writing. Bedford/St. Martins

Mensah, R. A. (2021). Securing Tomorrow Today: A Path Towards Quality Education. Blue Rose Publishers.

Introduction

Hope for the best helps a person to survive, to fight for his life and happiness, no matter how terrible and difficult his life circumstances may be. Having lost hope, a person actually signs a sentence for themselves before fate does. Meanwhile, everything can change dramatically at any moment, but one still needs to reach this point without giving up, and without losing the will to live. However, it is not productive to hope for the best, completely surrendering to the hands of the Lord.

Discussion

If a person has ideas and plans, it is necessary to make efforts to implement them. Constantly waiting for a favorable opportunity will not lead to any opportunity. As a result, people who, apart from hope and prayer, do not take any action, achieve nothing in life and do not realize their potential. Endless hopes without any activity aimed at achieving the desired are absolutely useless. A fruitless belief in illusions can only make a person live a life in vain.

Hard work is an important part of life: to achieve any desired goal, it is necessary to make an effort. Those who only hoped and prayed are thrown to the side of life because while others worked, studied, and acquired new knowledge and experience, they did not develop in any way. Hard work, both mental and physical, requires strength. It can be drawn from hope and prayer, but it is worth using them only as auxiliary actions, not the main ones. Prayer and hope are necessary for people to constantly keep themselves in good shape and strive to achieve new goals. However, it is hard work that allows a person to feel like the creator of their own life, and of all that is beautiful in it.

Hope and prayer embody the realization of the psychological function of ensuring security with the help of religion. A believer feels protected, evaluates his capabilities higher, and feels more emotional comfort. Prayer and hope are psychological resources that provide security, but at the same time, it is an anti-incentive to activity. When the effect of psychological stimuli is mitigated, the motivation to resolve adverse situations becomes lower.

There is always something unknown and unexpected in a persons life. Any forecast has a probabilistic character. The situation of uncertainty leads to strong tension. Prayer and hope act as defense mechanisms of the individual. They play an important role in reducing anxiety and getting rid of a number of fears. This is an easy way to switch attention from assessing the significance of the situation and thinking and making a decision. A person has an illusion of security associated with the fact that higher powers will take care of them and are responsible for their lives.

Conclusion

Only by working hard, a person is really able to reach their full potential. Prayer and hope can give strength and desire to develop, which, of course, will open up new prospects for a person. However, if a person does not make any efforts, then hope and prayer, unsupported by any actions, will not give results. Prayer and hope are certainly comforting in difficult situations, but they should not turn into expectations of happiness without action. Therefore, people should take responsibility for ones lives and try their best to succeed without postponing life for later and waiting for a magical solution to happen.