Three years ago my definition of success was having more money, a blue BMW and a big house.
I tried using the Law of Attraction. I visualized the blue BMW. I saw myself in it. I felt it. I smelled it. But nothing happened. Why?
I wasn’t going after what really mattered to me. All of my friends wanted these things, so I thought I should want them to.
After all, driving a nice car feels good, doesn’t it? Why wouldn’t I want one? After things never manifested, I started to explore what mattered to me.
As I started creating my own definition of success, that’s when everything started falling into place.
My Definition of Success
Look at the universe as a computer terminal waiting for your command. It’s just sitting there waiting. If you forget to put anything in, it will use the most common definition for success, which you don’t want.
When I took responsibility for making my own rules, I became happier and more relaxed. We have too many shoulds in our life, it’s time we got rid of them, don’t you agree?
My definition for success is when I am following my heart and purpose, which basically encapsulates doing what I love, having fulfilling relationships and being happy. I like to keep it simple.
What’s Your Definition?
When you follow your heart, good things happen to you. I recently got asked to join a cool project started by Jonny.
He gathered 30 bloggers from around the globe and asked them each to contribute one page on what success is and how you can achieve it. The result? An amazing ebook.
With all that said, what’s your definition of success and how has it changed over the years?
Image by Richard
{ 35 comments }
success for me = waking up each day being happy knowing that I’m doing what I want to do.
I don’t want a really rigid definition. Personally, I don’t think the word has much meaning anymore. It only means something to those who spend there lives chasing it.
I couldn’t agree more! Making up your own definitions and realizing that you don’t have to do things in specific ways can be extremely liberating.
What about those that spend their lives living it?
I’m with Anthony Feint. Living the way you want is success for me. It varies from person to person. A minimalist lifestyle may appear simple, but its implementation is a whole different story. Others crave financial security. The important thing is not to focus too blindly on the outcome; we should rather aim at making the present moment as happy as possible. Focus on the small steps one at a time, and success will reveal itself to you.
Success = Meaningful Contribution
My formula hasn’t changed. But my scope has broadened considerably.
Looking forward to picking up (virtually) a copy of The Life Thing!
For such a long time I didn’t contribute. I always had the mindset of what’s in it for me. I’ve only lately realized how important contribution is.
Success in my eyes is being truly happy with who you are from deep within yourself and living your life free spirited not trying to make anyone but yourself happy. Serve others and be kind to others and give all you can but don’t let others push you around and enjoy every second you live in any way you can find possible.
I should come up with my own phrase here or something!
Well, close enough anyway, this is my opinion.
Serving others and being kind, but don’t let others push you around. It’s a fine line, but it’s worth learning how to balance
Thanks for commenting dude!
You’re right it’s a fine line and you have to be careful not to fall to either side.
And it’s definitely worth the challenge and it has so many benefits!
Glad to contribute to your blog, Henri. Keep at it!
“We have too many shoulds in our life, it’s time we got rid of them, don’t you agree?”
Yes, I agree with this. I can really relate to the pressures of society saying that we should do this or want that or be this type of person. Too many shoulds that don’t resonate with who I want to be.
I don’t own a car and don’t really want one, but it’s hard when you see so many people in society have one and feel the pressure to conform and just buy it. Like so many other products that we “should” have as adults. So far, I’ve resisted the pressure but it’s not easy – especially when you are bombarded by the ads and commericals selling the idea of a wonderful and successful life if only you buy the product.
Success to me is being happy with my life, my relationships, and what I spent my time on each day. It can vary greatly depending on all three
Congrats on the Success book with Jonny.
Karen
I’ve never owned a car either. I don’t have any desire to own one. I try to live as simply as possible and reduce expenses. It allows me to make less and focus on what I care without worrying about money (although I still worry to some extent, but worrying allows me to release and identify what I am resisting).
Success to me is dong something I love and have a passion for. Fortunately that’s also enabled me to now put a roof over my head and buy a few luxuries here and there. I may not have a BMW but I’m happy which is another component of success.
Yes sir! I live a very simple life (like I mentioned above), but I have everything I need. Sure, more stuff might be fun for a while, but ultimately, it isn’t essential to my happiness. You have to be happy before you can be happy, as they say
For me success is pursuing my dreams (being my own boss with a steady income, health insurance + good health, and a reasonable number of hours) while spending time with my family and traveling/enjoying new experiences.
Sounds like you’re on the right track! I’m amazed at how many of you guys are already rocking it. If you’re reading this and aren’t, don’t worry, you’re heading in the right direction.
How do I know? Because you’re reading this blog!
My definition of success? It also includes materialistic things. Of course, as long as I am healthy and have family and friends by my side, life is good.
The day I can quit my job and afford a “comfortable living” will I define myself as a success. When I can buy a car or a house or travel without any worries–sweet!
Of course I’d then turn to helping family and friends
It’s good to have specific goals and know when exactly you’ve reached a milestone. Way to go and thanks for sharing your definition, Moon
Success = moving towards those things which keep me passionate even while I’m working at a job which is unsatisfying.
Amen
Yes, I think the LoA works when we REALLY TRULY want what we’re asking for. I find other higher plane things, like energy healing and intuition, also seem accessible for me when I TRULY NEED AND DESIRE THEM. Some people seem to be more flashy psychics than me, but when I need to know something, I generally do – or better yet, I’m already accidentally-on-purpose drifting into the right course of action.
Andrew
That’s what I find happening to me most of the time! I’m accidentally just doing what I like and end up finding the right people and doing the right things at the right time. It’s awesome
First of all, I must say I really enjoy reading your blog
Success for me is to be able to do what you want to do, as Anthony said. It further means to be able to live your life. I don’t want to have to work sixty hours a week just to earn more money. I actually don’t think that it’s worth it at all because you don’t have the time to spend the money.
And my last thought is that money doesn’t even get your far. I think instead of spending more time working you should invest that time in relationships.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts, Julius!
Great post! Thumbs up to the tip on redefining success in our own terms. I used to define success as having attained material comforts. And then I realized that having wealth will not necessarily make me happy. I will still be in a state of struggle and that can hardly be called success! To receive universal support towards our dreams, we need to work from a space of aligned purpose.
Hey Evelyn! You’re right on. Material comforts are nice but not essential. Sure, there’s a baseline, like having a roof over your head, food and so on, but when you start going over a certain point, it just isn’t necessary. However, it’s always cool with a lot of stuff, I’m not saying that I don’t like it, but I’ve realized that I am happy without it.
Success is somewhere between giving life a hug and making it scream in sweat-soaked ecstasy.
ha ha ho ho and hee hee
keep it unreals yo
a
That sounds like a pretty good definition to me
Henri – I like your attitude and definition of this. I’ll be blogging on something related for a post I have had in the back of my mind for awhile. Nice to see similar thoughts expressed so easily.//Marc
Back to basic, the fact that we can wake up every month is a success!
I feel the same way. For a while I have wanted to find a way to be successful in my own way. I have a general idea of what I want. Just recently I started placing the building blocks in place for my foundation. Reading this post and your view on success helps inspire me to move forward the way I want to go. Sometimes it makes it easier to see your own way when you know other’s out there think the same way. Keep up the great work bud!
Thanks Ryan!
It’s definitely a fine balance between following instructions and then finding your own way.
Cheers for being involved in the project mate.
A pleasure, Jonny! Thanks for having me.
Earl Nightingale said “success is progressively realizing a worthy ideal.”
For me success is becoming who I was created to be. I did not choose a lot of things – my race, my name, my parents, my sex, and so much more but there are somethings that i find very easy to do simply because they come to me naturally. Those are the things i have been destined to do.
Success will be bringing them all out from within and maximizing them to the fullest to make the whole of creation better than it was before I came along.
I have to “Live Life More Abundantly”
Great idea about the e-book. I’m off to Jonny’s site.
I have come around to believing that the only reason to be here is to spend as much time as possible doing what you love to do. Life is too short to spend it doing a job that gives you no satisfaction and fulfilment.
I have spent a lot of time eliciting my values and trying to replace some of them with more resourceful ones. I find that I just can’t get myself to feel motivated by money.
Money is like food. If you don’t have enough, it is hard to think of anything else. But when you do have enough to meet your basic needs, how much more do you need?
Rich
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