Success means different things at various phases of our lives. To many, success is monetary wealth, achieving financial independence and prosperity. In truth though, learning to walk after repeatedly falling is success to a kid. Growing up, passing exams is success. Your first job, first relationship is a successful start. Positive life choices, being respected by peers and colleagues alike is a sign of success. Later, getting married, starting a family, making that marriage work, devoting time and attention to the family/kids in those crucial years; all denote success.
What this implies then is that success is a relative term. It is forever evolving. Changing as our lives grow and transform.
Financial prosperity alone does not necessarily mean one is successful. If anything it means that one is just wealthy but one’s successful life is not complete. On the other hand, it is possible to have a successful life without being wealthy.
Maya Angelou beautifully defined success as liking yourself, liking what you do and how you do it.
This compelled me to bring to your attention the fact that the quote is written in the present tense. Liking yourself for what you are today, what you do now and how you do it in this moment.
When I relocated to the Unites States in 2012 it was overwhelming. I felt inadequate without the job and friends I was used to. I had just been promoted at work and was looking forward to the added responsibilities that came with the perks. Here in the US though, life was different. I got busy with setting up home, getting to know new people and places, starting my own coaching company… yet for a while I didn’t see that as ‘success.’
Until one day, an acquaintance casually mentioned the amount I’d accomplished in a year and how I should be proud of myself.
There in that moment I realized that unconsciously I had recreated success. Yet consciously I was caught up chasing success as I knew it; only liking what I was, what I did and how I did it.
And if by any chance any of you are caught up in that same bubble, here are 5 questions which will help burst the unwanted illusion and gracefully carry you to the wonderful reality of your existence, encouraging you to realign your parameters of success and reinvent yourself, right here, right now.
- What are your priorities at present?
- What is the successful outcome/goals you desire today?
- What’s stopping you?
- What can you do more of?
- How would you know that you’ve achieved your outcomes and goals? What would you see, hear, feel or notice?
For eventually what is success? Success is a constantly evolving process, not a fixed place.
Do enjoy the process.