As writers, the process of finding our voice is crucial to our success. Not necessarily commercial success, but it can be.
This speaks volume and your final paragraph as well. We succeed in every way. It may not be as successful as others but in our own way. We have our own goals, our own mountains to climb. It's not about the social standards or the standards of others that we should be aiming for but of our own. We know what we can do. We have the necessary tools to improve and we can do.
I'm glad this point hit home with you. So often people, writers especially, seemed to judge their success based on some arbitrary standard - how many stories published, how much money they've made, who they've worked with - whatever. But success is individual and we know when we find it even if it isn't obvious to others.
I use to beat up myself and stressed from the pressure I get because of waht people around me dictates and what is expected of me. It took a long time for me to realize that I do not have to put myself in the league of others because I have my own road to travel.