Success, in the dictionary, is defined as, “The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.” So why is success in our society defined by the balance in your bank account, the car you drive, or how big your house is? You are successful if you are a lawyer, doctor, or movie actor with a six figure income. You should be able to be called a “success” when you have been able to do anything and everything you have wanted to do in your life. Shouldn’t success be defined as being able to do what your passion is in life? Shouldn’t you be successful when you have achieved complete happiness? Besides money, wealth should include your spiritual, physical and mental well-being.

There are six disciplines I learned during my life which motivated and helped create a well-balanced and successful life for me. These disciplines include: self, spiritual, physical, time, money, and growth.

Self discipline means making decisions regarding your life and having the mind set to follow through with what you want to accomplish. It also means staying focused with the task at hand and holding yourself accountable for your actions. Become proactive in your life, persist, and persevere!

You can have everything in your life, but without spirituality everything can go out the door. God is there to help solve your problems and be your Authority in life. Just five to ten minutes a day meditating and praying in silence can be the difference between a serene life and a chaotic life. Being thankful and grateful for what God has given you can open up more doors, more opportunities, and ultimately, more prosperity in your life.

Something most of us struggle with is physical discipline. I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to turn an action into a habit. Eating right and exercising on a consistent basis not only boosts your energy and helps you live longer, it helps relieve the stresses that everyday life brings.

Time management is important in accomplishing any goal in life. It seems that we never have enough time to do what we want to do. Remember that there is a time and place for everything. There is a time for play and a time for work. Prioritizing tasks and taking small steps each day will lead to

Sometimes I wish that money did not exist. But it looks like it’s here to stay and we do need it to pay rent and buy food. It took awhile to become disciplined with money. Now I have come to understand the value of the dollar and control excess spending. I have learned to be accountable for every dollar I spend. I have learned to give to charity no matter what my paycheck looks like.

Life is about learning and growing. Growth is developing relationships and lasting bonds with our family and friends and learning from each other. Growth is realizing that we are not perfect, but striving to become the best that we can be. Growth is also realizing that we are capable of doing anything we set our mind to and achieving our goals. God has given us all unique abilities. It’s what we do with those abilities that will determine whether or not we will be successful.

God has blessed me with the opportunities and the talents to do what I have always wanted. Although some of the things I have done did not pay very well, there was the intrinsic reward of being able to make a difference in another person’s life. I felt I was successful in helping another human being and someday they may return the favor.

To become successful requires a little patience. Creating wealth and success in your life can take some time, maybe months or even years. Sweat, tears and agony are part of the process, but well worth it.

Maria Palma is a writer, painter, jewelry designer, interior decorator, and real estate consultant based in San Diego, California. She received her degree in Psychology from California State University, Chico, but realized that she wanted to pursue her artistic passions. She has two websites: Salon de Maria (http://www.salondemaria.info), which showcases her art, and Home Solutions (http://www.homesolutionssandiego.com), a resource for real estate and home decorating in the San Diego area.