There is no doubt that most of us go through a process as we try to decide what we want to do and how we define success. Outside influences play a huge role in that success – offering goals and guidelines that can either help or hinder the process, depending what you’re after. From understanding how to define a career to making family and relationships part of those goals, success can’t always be measured by society’s box. Learning to develop your own guidelines and following your own path can be a tough process, but the outcome can mean unparalleled happiness and accomplishments. If you’re struggling with redefining success on your own terms – you aren’t alone – it’s a tough world out there! Here’s some tips for getting through it all and coming out victorious (and with a plan) on the other side.
Redefining Success: On Your Own Terms
Take the path less traveled. It’s OK to not follow a traditional career path – sometimes testing the waters is exactly how you figure out what you actually want. So go for it – take a job that you’d like to try out – just to see if you like it. And, if you don’t – that’s OK – move onto the next! You will eventually find your path.
Have faith that it will all work out. Take a lesson from one of our favorite guest bloggers, Nikko Novo, ”I have no roadmap for you, but I can offer you the gift of faith. When it comes to stepping outside of your tiny box, what you need is the unfaltering knowledge that this foggy road is the one you’re meant to be on right now. Once you have that, be prepared to work your ass off… and enjoy the happiness that follows, of course.”
Don’t fear growth; go with it. Growing in your career or family often feels scary – it’s new! It’s unchartered territory! But, you’ll navigate it and you’ll do just fine. In fact, you’ll grow from the challenges and the unknown. You’ll come out wiser, a little more creative and most-likely, a little tougher. So don’t be afraid to evolve as things around you change.
Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t feel like you have to fit inside a particular set of lines or a box with set rules – it is OK to color outside of the lines. “After spending so many years adhering to a set of instructions, even if it made us miserable, our default is to look for it when it’s missing. It’s what we know. It’s comfortable. It’s safe,” said Nikki in a recent blog post.
Bottom line – go with your heart. You are the only one who knows how you will define success for your own life, no one else can make that happen for you. No matter how long the road is or what you have to sacrifice to get there, you’ll know you did it because you followed your heart.
How do you define success for yourself? Have you faced odds to get there?
