“Success is not what you have, but who you are.”
~ Bo Bennett

When we think of the word “successful,” most people think of wealth, fame, influence, a certain job title, accolades and awards. These are the things society tells us we need to achieve in order to be a success. And, sadly, in these days of social media, success is measured by the number of “likes” and followers you can get.

Most people go through life trying to achieve these things without really stopping to think about what success looks and feels like to them. They set out blindly in a direction that society has prescribed as the path to success, only to find that they aren’t happy or fulfilled.

It’s time to allow ourselves to really open up our ideas of what it means to be  successful, both personally and professionally.  Successes can come in small wins every day and also in larger, overall goals you’re excited to accomplish.  Success is about you showing up every day as your genuine self.   It’s not necessarily about the bank account or position, but your own sense of satisfaction.  You may find it in accomplishing the tasks you set out for yourself that day, or in taking the time in your day to relax, connect with your higher self and create a sense of inner peace.  Success can be about an act of kindness.  So, with that in mind, let’s look at some ways to re-define success.

Values

What are your top five values?  In other words, what is most important to you?  Freedom?  Compassion?  Creativity?  Community?  Physical and emotional well-being?  Being Organized? These are just a few suggestions to get you going—you can find lists online.  When you’ve identified what’s most important to you, it gives you a clear direction forward.  Does your current lifestyle reflect those values?  If you are living in harmony with your values, that’s a success!  Yay!  If there are places to tweak, that’s a goal to aim for.  How would it feel to live according to what you value, rather than someone else’s idea of what you “should” value?

Passion

What lights a fire in your belly?  How do you most like to spend your time?   Successful people spend the majority of their time doing what they most love. 

How do you want to be remembered?

What would you like people say about you at the end of your life? 

Growth

Success isn’t static. It’s not a position you get to and then you’re done.  The purpose of our lives is to keep growing.  As we move through life our perspectives change.  Allow yourself to embrace all of the experiences you have.  What you may see as a “failure” while in the middle of it, may be your biggest success.  Why?  Because if you learn from it and grow from it, you have gained from the experience and you’ve become more than you were—and that is success.

Now, reflect back on times when you felt successful.

  • What was your mindset before you started?
  • How did you do it?
  • How did it feel?

What success means to each of us is personal.  There are many ways to define success.  Once you know what that is for you, stand strongly in that place.

What is your definition of success?  I’d love to hear it in the comments below!