Defining "Success" for Adult Felons

Ned Rollo - OPEN, INC.

"Success" for a person with a felony history is a dynamic condition of recognizable growth -- a purposeful process of positive unfolding combined with an expanding sense of belonging and constructive participation. This condition includes:

progression out of past dysfunction and dismay into a state of present achievement and pursuit of future good...

becoming increasingly capable and competent, while savoring the joy of emerging self-respect and the achievement of earned trust...

a swelling sense of pride and dignity based on good intent, selfless deeds, discipline and a lifestyle that seeks harmony and balance...

the gradual, consistent movement out of the darkness of falsehood and illusion, into the light of truth and reality...

increasing recognition of and respect for self and others -- a conscious cultivation of the opportunity to "connect" & foster positive relationships...

a growing propensity to value one's "investment" inside the circle...

pursuit of higher consciousness and spiritual enlightenment...

adoption of a lifestyle free of addiction and self-abandonment...

an ever-expanding ability to laugh and love with fullness and delight...

the freedom, linked with the power and control, required to make constructive choices and accept full ownership of their consequences...

and, above all, an increasing capacity to experience a sense of peace.

Thus, "success" is a state of positive "becoming" -- an evolution, out of the ashes of past misdeeds, beyond the grip of sorrow, fear, shame and rage, into a deep appreciation for lessons learned, a commitment to make a rewarding contribution to others and a deep-seated gratitude for the nature and scope of one's life experience.

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