Self Improvement Made Easy

It’s obvious, success means different things to different people – their particular objectives are unique to them alone, their loved ones and their circumstances. Unfortunately however, more often than not, definitions of success are based on the norms of the society in which we find ourselves – we look to the achievements of society’s apparently successful people as our barometer and, consequently, our definitions of success become comparative, competitive and, all too often, materially focused.

However, on closer examination, those held aloft as paragons of success are nothing more than naked emperors. Sure, they may be successful in one aspect of their lives but other aspects of their lives may well be a complete mess. Or, indeed, many so-called successful people have ascended the ladder of success whilst walking over others or trampling other people’s aspirations into the dirt – if they get a good night’s sleep it is only because they have chosen to ignore the damage that they have done.

True success is more than that. Real success needs to be multi-faceted. Indeed, true success must exhibit itself in every aspect of your life, otherwise you’re fooling yourself, you’re living down to society’s expectations. When I work with my clients, I spend plenty of time facilitating their defining success for themselves. This is the framework definition that I offer them.

“I’m really good at what I do, I put my heart and soul into it and it turns me on. I get well rewarded for it and it makes a positive difference to those whose lives I touch. I have a balanced life, putting my heart and soul into everything I do, every place I am, with everybody with whom I find myself. I have a wonderful personal life and fantastic real relationships. I do what’s necessary so that I’m fit and healthy. And I ensure that I spend plenty of time doing the things that really excite me – my life is an adventure. I am happy in my own skin, at peace in my own company.”

After that, of course, each individual’s definition of success is unique and personal. You see taking this rounded perspective on success changes our perspective of what it is to have truly reached the pinnacle of human achievement. Success needs to be, above all else, felt and experienced within. Happiness and success should go hand in hand – and the only place that you will find true happiness is within. Where else would you expect to find it?

Everything else – the cars, the holidays, the second homes, the job titles – is transient. Like everything else in life, these things arise for a time and then pass away. Real success and happiness should not be dependent upon or attached to any of these passing fads. Seek “attachment-based” success and you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. Alternatively, seek the inner peace and happiness that comes with true, balanced, across-the-board success and you will arrive at a place on which so few even take the trouble to set their sights in the first place.