"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." This is
one of my favorite quotes from J.R.R Tolkien's book The Lord of the Rings. It is my belief that the events in a person's life are out of their control. The only thing in this world that we, as humans, can control is how we respond to these events that "fate" may lay before us.
The most important choice I have to make in order for me to be happy and successful is made in response to these events. At every crossroads I encounter, I have to make a choice. Will I go left or right? Will I help the person with a flat tire on the side of the road or drive by? These decisions will shape my life.
When I reach these crossroads I can choose to act morally and responsibly. I can make my decision based on the values I was raised with taking into consideration what I really want in my life. This will lead to a choice that undoubtedly will help guide me in a direction that I can be happier and more successful.
The flip side of that decision would be to act out of fear, out of pressure, out of ignorance. If I were to decide with these principles affecting me, I would assuredly make a decision that would lead me down a much darker road.
Being happy and successful are relative terms that do not always coexist nicely. Success is quantified in a professional sense, whereas happiness is quantified in a personal sense.