According to etymology online, one of the many origins of the word successful comes from the Latin participle succedere, which can mean “go near to” or “follow after.” It made me wonder whether it is a good idea to use this word. In my opinion, this word could imply that you always are chasing after something but never quite getting it, sort of like a bunny rabbit chasing a carrot on a string. So, while this word does have positive overtones, it can be a word that influences you to always be on a chase but never quite getting what you want.
Instead of Saying, “I’m Successful,” It May Be Better to Say This
Instead of using the words, “I’m successful,” I’ve opted to see myself as accomplished. According to etymology online, accomplish comes from the Old French accomplir meaning “to complete.” So, when I noticed this slight difference between the two, I felt like I wanted to think of myself as have completed things instead of still chasing them.
I know this is a subtlety and occasionally I slip back and consider myself “successful.” However, as you know from earlier phrases of the month and word of the month posts, I’m much more interested in liquidating words and phrases that don’t help propel me forward. As you may know, mediocre or negative choices of words can lead to unwanted circumstances in your life. So, eliminating those that aren’t ideal to use and incorporating better ones will start to improve your life.
Remember words are like spells. You use them enough, they “put a spell on you.” Likewise, if you think about cheap, broke things all the time, your surroundings will reflect that. If you use words that imply abundance and confidence, you will be well on your way to sculpting the right type of mentality to improve your life.
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Image of how to be successful on newspaper courtesy of 84164743 © Zerbor | Dreamstime.com
