Sometimes we do not realize how much we have accomplished and how successful we are in our careers. As a society people use measurements that may not be measuring the things that are meaningful and impactful to our lives. We need to take a step back from time to time and realize how far we have come as individuals.
Success is a relative term. Society uses other measurements to determine what the definition of success is. Society wants us to measure our own personal success against those of others. When we do this, we tend to fall short when we have accomplished certain things that truly indicate what it means to be successful.
Many clients come into my office anxiously because they are using the wrong measurement to identify their success. Clients come into my office thinking that they are not successful, good fathers, good spouses or good at their jobs. When we discuss their best hopes, we see the type of person that they currently are and the type of person they have become. We can see the resources that they have developed throughout their journey that they didn’t even realize they have and can be considered successful because many people cannot say that they have accomplished even one of them. Some of the things that have been identified from my sessions and research that we can consider successful are:
- Embrace failure. This allows us to learn and provides opportunities for growth.
- Finding balance, setting boundaries and making time for what matters most to us.
- Cultivating resilience when life gives us those ups and downs from time to time.
- Practice gratitude and acknowledge the good in our lives.
- Not only setting personal goals but achieving them.
- Make a positive impact by volunteering and giving back to our communities.
- Learn to love and appreciate yourself. Appreciate and accept you for you.
- Embrace solitude and find comfort in reflecting, recharging, and reconnecting with you.
- Maintain meaningful relationships with friends and family. Enjoy your time with them.
- Live authentically and be true to your values, passions and beliefs.
Success is personal. Each one of our journeys and lives is ours to live and ours to navigate. If we get caught up in the societal definition of success, we will miss so many things that truly define us as successful individuals. According to psychology, success is deeply personal and reflects more on our character, values and experiences than on external achievements. The accomplishments that we have discovered are from embracing failure, finding balance, practicing gratitude and more. These are the true indicators for success and what we should be using as true measurements.
Abraham Maslow once said, “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” So, if you’ve been stepping forward into growth by accomplishing these things in your life, then you’re more successful than you might think. Remember, success isn’t a destination but a journey. This incredible path isn’t a path that is taken by the weak. Only high achieving individuals have what it takes to go down this incredible path. But, when they do, they find new measurements for success and new definitions of what it means to be successful in life. Growth comes from getting outside our comfort zones. Being uncomfortable is a sign that you are leveling up.
How many of the above measurements can you say that you have accomplished? What is missing from the list? What does your list look like?
