“Although I’m blind, I can see far and wide; even though I’m disabled, I can climb high mountains.” –Shirley Cheng

What comes before a successful businessman, a successful doctor, or a successful teacher? A successful human being. In order to be truly successful in life, you need to first establish three essential spiritual principles–your core values, gratitude, and faith–and these gems will help you create a successful you.

Values

What qualities do you hold highest? What traits do you want to have and be associated with? Think of what qualities are important to you, and then hold firm to them. Your values are what you will base your life’s decisions on, and they will guide you in the right paths in life. two plus two equals four. If you think that two plus two equals everything and anything, you are bound to encounter problems in your life.

You will make goals around your core values. For example, my value is goodness, so I make goals that will accomplish my value. I will be satisfied with having achieved that value if nothing else.

Nothing in life is ever guaranteed; everything you own–your car, your house, and even your friends and family–can be taken away from you. But nothing can take away your values if you do not let them. No one can destroy your values unless you destroy them yourself.

Gratitude

Before we run into any obstacle, we first need to prepare ourselves for negative or challenging situations. We need a cushion on which we can fall back when we run into life’s hardships. Think about the acrobats performing in circuses; while they dazzle their audiences with their skills and agility, they have nets underneath them to catch them in case they ever fall. This is the kind of protection we need to have in life, so we will not get badly bruised once we crash down. This cushion in life should be gratitude. Appreciation is the essential net to cushion us against ordeals, from everyday obstacles to life’s traumas.

Start everything with appreciation. Before you do anything new, say anything new, go anywhere new, meet anyone new, first appreciate your current state in every aspect. This acts like a cushion in case what you do brings you to your original state. So if you could be thankful for now, when you return to now, you will be thankful that you have not lost anything and will be grateful for anything you do gain. So it is vital to appreciate your situation at every stage of your life.

Faith

The most important ingredient to success–and this is what really takes me far in life–is the deep, unwavering faith in God.

it is the faith in God that has allowed me to move forward, one sure step at a time, as I know He is there guiding me, supporting me, and loving me. Keep your faith in God strong and sturdy, and your steps will be strong and sturdy in turn.

Besides the three important principles, my golden rule to be truly successful is: Do your best in everything you do. Many people do a mediocre job and expect to be successful; they depend on luck to get them successful. But in the long term, luck will not bring you far.

In life, no matter what position you are in–a teacher, a doctor, a parent, a child, a grandchild–do your best in being your best. And make the most of what you have. If you only have a spoon and a fork, use the fork to comb your hair and use the spoon to play music. Hey, some people do not even have a spoon and a fork. In my case, I lost my eyesight, but I still have my fingers so I can type; I still can hear, and I am still alive. I use all those wonderful factors to become an award-winning author, motivational speaker, published poet, and advocate, and I continue to love the life I live.

About the Author:
Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author, motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, poet, author of seven books, contributing author of twelve, and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. http://www.shirleycheng.com

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