Judging success by your own standards

What Does Success Mean to You?

What does success really mean to you? It’s important to clarify your thoughts, goals and desires before you can achieve success! You can’t work towards something passionately when you aren’t sure what the end result will be.

Success means many different things to different people. Unfortunately, the tendency is to view monetary gain as success. However, financial wealth is only a small part of overall success.

Different Areas of Success

Because there are different areas of success, you can be successful in one area and unsuccessful in others. In order to develop a plan for your success, it’s important to make your own list of areas that are relevant to you.

To achieve overall success in life, you’ll want to examine your priorities in each area.

For many of us, there are 3 main components of success. In your personal plan for success, there may even be more. Be sure to include any areas that are important to you.

Consider these three main areas:

1. Career.

Any number of things can be used to measure your success when it comes to your career. In your career evaluation, remember to determine what strengths and weaknesses you have that can help or hinder you from achieving your goal. Contemplate these questions:

Are you happy with your career?
Do you desire a higher status position?
What amount of income would make you happy?
Would you simply like to feel appreciated by your boss?

2. Emotional.

These questions can guide you to important considerations for your emotional success:

Are you satisfied with your relationships? Why or why not?
What have you learned so far that could help you do better in the future?
If you have children, do you feel successful in how you’re raising them?

3. Health.

Are you doing everything you can for your overall well-being? Maybe a change in diet and exercise is in order. Take a moment to evaluate whether you’ve achieved success in this area or if there’s room for improvement.

If your health can use a boost, make a plan to start implementing changes in your daily routine that lead to a healthier lifestyle.

The Journey to Success

Your journey to success will have highs and lows throughout your life. There will be mistakes and disappointments. You may experience a setback at some point. The beauty is that you can get back on track and move closer to your goals at any time.

You may achieve new levels of success at different times in your life and career. As you progress in your job, start a family, and get involved in giving back to your community, your definition of success may change, as do your priorities. Go with the flow; it’s okay for your outlook on life and your meaning of success to change over time.
Love what you do! Life is too short to be stuck doing something you despise. To achieve success in life, work with what you’ve got. Focus on your strengths and interests and do the things that bring those to the forefront of your life.
Challenges and obstacles are opportunities for further success. Everyone has setbacks at some point in their lives. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be human. The successful individual has the confidence that he can and will do better!

Every so often, it’s very important to step back and re-evaluate your idea of success. There are so many changes in life and with each one, you’ll find that your priorities change also. Never underestimate the power that comes from persistence and experience. Most importantly, though, remember to enjoy the journey!

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Evaluate the different areas of your life. Establish your priorities. What does success look like to you in each of these areas?

And last but not least: Affirmation!

I judge my success by my own standards.

Outside influences rarely determine my success because it is driven by my standards. I set my own definitive scale of measurement for how well I do in life.

Society tries to tie me to certain standards for success, but I avoid falling into the trap. I know that the easiest way to feel unfulfilled is living according to the ideals of others. My focus is on living an authentic life that I am able to confidently stand behind.

My peers realize some achievements before me but I avoid feeling less accomplished. I know that there is a time and season for each experience in life.

I give attention to my own goals and work hard to achieve them. The noise from outside influences rarely gets me to lose focus.

The experiences of others sometimes serve as teaching tools. I use their examples to help me to know whether I am on the right track. Even so, I avoid looking at their result as my standard for success.

Today, I commit to remaining focused on my internal standards for success and decide for myself which goals I want to pursue. I am unfazed by the achievements of others, and I avoid comparing myself to them.

Self-Reflection Questions:

How do I arrive at the standards for success that I set for myself?
How do I determine when it is time to adjust my standards or my goals?
How do I react when I am unable to achieve success as planned?