How do I know when I am successful? Boy, talk about the grandaddy of open ended questions eh? Please bear with me though as I believe we would all do well to give it some serious thought.
Have you ever noticed how many folks choose to equate success with a monetary figure — they place a dollar amount on it and assume that once that figure is attained they’ll suddenly feel successful.
Unfortunately it’s rarely as easy as saying that once we have x number of dollars in the bank we will somehow magically feel as though we’ve truly lived a life of worthwhile achievement.
With that said the question is how do we get past the point where we’re only equating success with a sticker price?
Take your success personally ….
Years ago I heard success defined as, “having the freedom to be yourself” and I think that is about the best definition I have heard to date. It is the gauge I use in my own life to know whether I’m leading a successful life.
My feeling is that as long as I have the resources necessary to move through life fully able to pursue the goals and dreams that are important to me then I am a successful.
At first the above definition might appear to be a bit open ended, but it should get you really thinking if you give it some serious thought.
For starters it gives us the room to dream and really think about what it would take to live out our goals and dreams — the things that we truly place personal value on — not just those things that outside forces may deem as important.
Say for example you want to be the best parent you can be. That doesn’t take a lot of money does it? (unless you think to be a good parent you’ve got to have ample amounts of money to care for your kids).
You see, the point here is not what amount of money you have, or lack there of. In fact only you will be able to decide what is enough for you and your loved ones.
It is far easier to take our due credit for our past achievements when we’re not holding ourselves up to someone else’s standard. Competition isn’t a bad thing, but when it’s the only measuring stick we use it can end up working against us if we are not careful.
In my humble opinion success is best measured on a personal level. If we attempt to put a frame around what we see as being successful or not — if we view others and say, they have this many material possessions so they must be successful we’re missing out.
You see when we frame what constitutes living a successful life around those things that we personally see as valuable then we enjoy where we are now more. Life seems to offer up opportunities to us that we never seemed to notice before.
By the same token when we set out to do the best we can do inevitably great opportunity finds us because we are doing what truly makes us happy. We’re in alignment and ready for the opportunities that life will put in our path.
Don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not saying that acquiring wealth is not a result of achieving success. I’m simply saying that at best it is a result that comes from following your dreams. Working towards achieving those things that you deem to be most important. I’d also suggest that lack of financial rewards most definitely is not the only currency with which we should measure our level of success.
Keep this thought in mind: Success is a personal thing. Define it according to what you value most and you are far more likely to achieve it as well as enjoy it once you have it.
— Here’s to your success, Josh Hinds
* Josh Hinds is the author of Why Perfect Timing is a Myth: Tips for Staying Inspired and Motivated Day in and Day out! and It’s Your Life, LIVE BIG!