Achievement

Achievement can mean many things to many people across all cultures, ages, backgrounds and social status. In essence, achievement involves an act of accomplishing a task, a goal or achieving something through courage, determination and skill. A dictionary definition of achievement may not provide a glimpse of the effort and intention required for someone to attain their target nor the personal sacrifice required to reach their allotted goal. Achievement is personal but it can also be local, national or international such as scoring a winning goal in a local football cup competition or a gold medal in the Olympics.

For most people, achievement is deeply personal and can be associated with self-development development, self-improvement or pursing one’s hobbies. Personal achievement can be measured in passing examinations, learning to speak another language or learning to play a musical instrument. Here it could be argued that achievement involves the experiences learned along the way in addition to any certification which recognises such attainments. When pursing achievement an individual learns many things about themselves and develop attributes such as perseverance, inner strength and tenacity. Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-motivation are also improved through the process of achievement.

celebrating academic achievement

Achievement can also be celebrated in wider society such as passing examinations, gaining a university degree, or being promoted at work. This means achievement is recognised and validated by external sources such as exam bodies, continuing professional development courses or work progression routes. This can mean increased social status, increased financial renumeration or public recognition such as winning an accolade of some sort. However, if external recognition is the basis of achievement, the lack of personal fulfilment may form internal disaffection and, therefore, the need to for more external validation which can have negative consequences for the individual concerned.

It is important to consider that achievement is rarely a straight-line process and journey. There are setbacks, disappointments and outright failures which are part and parcel of the achievement experience. Consequently, overcoming obstacles, barriers and setbacks are what makes achievement all the sweeter, character building and more rewarding when it occurs. Learning from mistakes, overcoming obstacles, adapting to new environments and persisting in the face of adversity are essential for building character, inner strength and resilience. These newly found attributes help individuals to overcome challenges in the future. People in all walks of life have faced moments when defeat is staring them in the face. Yet somehow, somewhere they conjure up the wherewithal to overcome defeat and go on to great success. Therefore, setbacks provide the opportunity for growth and propel people to their goals.

physical achievement on an assault course

Achievement and its meaning can change over time and today in the modern world achievement may not necessarily be defined by material wealth, social status or celebrity status. Many people now seek to define achievement as something more personal, creating greater work-life balance, enhancing their sense of well-being and contributing to local comminates, their local environment and wider society. Volunteering, joining art groups, poetry societies, local football clubs or helping out in hospitals are all forms of achievement on a personal level and are celebrated as such by the participants.

Ultimately, achievement is highly personal and is a highly individual experience. Such a journey is formed by personal values, societal influences and the different challenges and obstacles people confront along the way. Whether these achievements are large or small, public or private accomplishments is irrelevant as they are all successes that are highly personal to those who undertake them in the first place. All achievements add to an individual’s esteem, help to build a meaningful life and encourage people to achieve their potential. Engaging in achievement activities allows the individual to develop the capacity to grow and inspire themselves and others to attain and improve their skills. This allows people to acquire resilience and develop an inner strength that creates self-confidence, inner satisfaction and a sense of achievement. What more could anyone ask for?

Achievement

Be in no doubt, you’re in with
a shout, you’re going to succeed

Aim for the sky, no obstacle too tough
or too high, you’re going to succeed

You’ve done the hard yards and played
the right cards, you’re going to succeed

Give it your best shot, let it have all that
you’ve got, you’re going to succeed

Believe that you are strong, that you can
do no wrong, you’re going to succeed

When you cross that line with your best
Finishing time, you know you have succeeded

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

Dermot