Am I Successful?

Every so often I’ll listen to a podcast or read a blog post that tackles a topic I’ve been grabbling with myself. It will stop me dead in my tracks and my brain will start bubbling over with thoughts.

I had that moment while listening to Being Boss episode #102, Defining Success. It stopped me dead in my tracks and got me thinking, am I successful?

 

I talk about my life on the internet. It’s a big part of what I do. And as much as I try to be candid and honest and authentic, it’s still just a highlight reel of my life.

Even when I talk about less than pretty things, I pair it with filtered photo so it still looks stylized. Meltdowns don’t make for cute instagram photos.

It’s impossible to share everything about my life. I respect the privacy of those around me. As open as I want to be about what it’s been like to launch a wellness business, there are still things I need to keep between my business partner and me.

The parts of my life I choose to show tend to align with my definition of success. It shows the glamorous side of my life. The exciting events I’m invited to attend. The companies I feel incredibly lucky to partner with. Boutique fitness classes. Pretty pictures and turquoise gel manicures. These things paint the picture of success.

So why don’t I feel more successful?

 

Defining Success. For me.

Success is not one size fits all. We all have to create our own definition of what success looks like in our own life. Maybe you like blogging and the affiliate market, or maybe you want to run a successful business like Jay Shah, the Indian businessman with a USD 15 million net worth. You can never achieve such a level of success without starting the work.

My own definition of success is constantly evolving and changing.

I used to think success was being able to afford the life I want to lead. Yeah, I’m talking the ability to take as many SoulCycle classes as I damn want. Eating ALL the expensive sushi.

For the record, my life is def not successful in those terms. I think people think I make a lot more money blogging than I do.

And I’m learning to expand that definition. Success is being about to afford the life I want to lead. But it’s also feeling passionate about the work I do that affords me this luxury.

And digging even deeper, success is being able to do all that while ultimately working for myself. Because I have authority issues. And hate fluorescent lights and rules and strict schedules.

My life is not quite there yet. But it’s the path I’m on.

 

Success is rooted in your why.

I want to be able to afford the life I want to lead and do so by working for myself on projects I’m passionate about.

But why?

Digging deeper, I think about why I want to work for myself in the first place. Besides the thought of working in pajamas all day, every day.

I want to work for myself because I want that flexibility. And I want that flexibility because it allows me to do all the things I love. And ultimately that makes me happy.

So maybe that’s my real definition of success — being happy with my life and how I spend my time.

I challenge you to dig deeper, and ask why to get to the core of what your real definition of success is.

 

So, am I happy?

More often than not, yes.

Not every day is perfect. And this semester I’m going through a rough patch. But it’s only temporary.

I’ll have shitty days but then I’ll have days that feel aligned with my definition of success. Not waking up at 5:15AM, easing into the day with a yoga class, making lunch, working on my business, taking a long walk and writing a blog post.

It’s a work in progress. And maybe that definition of success will shift again soon.

 

▶︎ YOUR TURN: How do you define success?

 

// Photo Credit: Alexis Damen