What is success, like really?
What does success mean to you? More work success, more money, more achievements…
So where does the chase for success end?
What is success? Like really?
As someone working in the personal development space, you could say I've spent considerable time pondering what success truly means.
Like most of us, in my younger days, I would often think success meant:
- Achieving my dream career
- Earning a good income
- Gaining respect in my industry
- Finding a life partner
- Travelling the world
Although all of the above should absolutely be viewed as successful milestones in one's life, these achievements unfortunately usually bring momentary satisfaction and often leave us wanting more. More work success, more money, more achievements… So where does the chase for success end?
It ends when success becomes about something you can hold onto, regardless of external validations.I have come to the conclusion that the biggest measure of success I have ever achieved was developing deep self-trust through building a strong sense of self.
The truth is, life is filled with ups and downs, happiness and sadness. Success cannot only be about the positive life moments as they are only a partial aspect of our lives. Chasing these highs and defining our self-worth by them will just make us unfulfilled at some point.
So why is strong self-trust so important?
Someone who has self-trust and a strong sense of self has:
- Inner peace - You feel at peace at any moment, good and bad, because you know the general direction you're heading , one that is true to who you are
- A positive life outlook - You have developed trust that the future version of you has the tools and ability to work through any obstacle you may face, because you have done so time and time before
- An ability to make empowered decisions - You dare to take leaps, even if they feel scary, because you are comfortable with the version of yourself who tries new things (and sometimes fails), you deeply understand your values and the long-term gain of a decision.
For me, nurturing self-trust and a strong sense of self feels like possessing a superpower. It's like perpetually surfing the waves of life, an experience far more valuable than arriving at an exotic island for a week or two holiday.
What does success mean to you?
