I guess my way of thinking differs from yours a little. I think that we prepareourselves as best we can, through education, and also by keeping our eyes open for "chance". Then, if the chance is a good one and fits us, we do our best to take it. All of this has been said by others.
If we can possibly manage it, the education should be in a field we like, and arecapable of being happy in and doing a good job. Then we should ask for helpfrom the Higher Power. Some call that humbly praying for help. We shouldkeep our eyes open for any kind of thing that may be a response, and followup on it. We can trust that we have been heard. If something unexpected comes up we need to take a look at it. If we can't seem to get anything going in the path we have mapped out for ourselves, after truly trying, then we should pray and ask to be shown the way that is best for us and all others. Theway that will allow us to fulfill our lives in the best way possible. Weneed to watch carefully again. Keep an open mind as we watch, too. And trust. Trust that the best way will eventually open to us if we are sincere, and tryingto be good human beings. Something will come of this. It may not be what you expect, but it will be right.
When you work, work with your heart in the work as though you were worshipping the Highest Power in the Temple. That is the way to work. That way you will do your work to the best of your ability, and your heart will be happy because you have lifted your work and effort to a higher level.
Success may not be what you think it should be for yourself. But what you need to be a true success in life will come about You will, most certainly, be a success in life. That is what is important. Often it isn't possible to assess the true meaning of your life until you become old and kmuch wiser. Then you will often see, as others have often reported, that the things that you thought were your heaviest burdens were, in truth, blessings in your life. I can One was health, another was moving thousands of miles from home. There was another one. They caused effects that were the greatest of help for the widest good.
If you are detached from all except the Higher Power. Trust that you are heard and will receive help, and proceed steadfastly in a spirit of worship in the work you do, you will find you will fulfill the reason you are here where you are, and you will be a happy person.
Be sure to be thankful for good things that you have, or that come your way, whether they are small, like how pretty the light is as it shines through your glass of tea and how good the tea smells, or for your warm bed, or for greater things.
With the way most of you go about efficiently and actively studying with such determination -- if you add this to it you are sure to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. However you may find that your ideas of what success is may change. Don't be surprised if they do.
Warmly, Mary