What does being successful mean to you? Do us both a favour and don’t regurgitate some BS about owning a big house, driving a fancy car, or wearing head-to-toe designer clothing. In fact, I’d like you to consider boycotting that definition of success altogether. The fact of the matter is that for most people success is measured in how other people perceive them. I have a different view I’d like you to consider for a moment.
Life isn’t measured in dollars, it’s measured in minutes.
I think that’s a really important statement. All too often, we measure our own success by how much money we make, or what title we hold. But are money and status the key to success – YOUR version of success? Of course, we all need enough money to pay our bills and feed ourselves. What I’m asking you to think about is how you view success. What does living a successful life look like to YOU? The answer just might surprise you.
If a promotion means more money along with longer hours, additional responsibilities, and less freedom – would you still consider that a success? If buying a big home meant more hours spend cleaning and doing house and yard work – would you consider that a success? Maybe you would because you would have the space to entertain, but then again, maybe you’ve always wanted the house with the white picket fence because that’s what you were told you wanted…
Society’s definition of success
It’s easy to get caught up in society’s version of what success looks like, but success isn’t the same for everybody. Most people would automatically accept a promotion. After all who doesn’t like the sound of a better title and a bigger paycheque? However, to some, the freedom they have in their current job better aligns with their version of success. If you have to miss your kids’ soccer games and school plays, is the promotion worth it? If your friends are at happy hour and you’re constantly working late, is that a success?
Are you living a successful life? Are you truly happy? I firmly believe that happiness is a choice. Our lives are full of choices, and we are always one decision away from an entirely different life. Stopping to reflect on your current situation and where your life choices have landed you is not something people do often enough.
I challenge you to sit down and look at your life, where you’ve come from, and where you are now. Are you living a successful life? Not society’s version, but YOURS. And if not, what are you going to change? Set new goals and a plan of how you are going to achieve them. Align your goals with your vision of success.
I spent the first of the month doing exactly this, which is actually what prompted this blog post in the first place! Clearly, I now have some decisions to make, and some of them are pretty tough ones, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end. I want to live a life that I’m crazy passionate about – one that I love. We only get to do this crazy thing called life once – and I want to make it amazing!
Comment below and let me know, what does success look like to you?
Photo by Cathryn Lavery on Unsplash
