If you look for pictures of “success” on the internet, everything seems to refer to career, and everyone seems to be in a business suit. LOL. There are endless pictures of people climbing steps with a briefcase and trying to reach the top, and jumping up and down when they do.
What is Success?
So, this is the picture of success in our world. Climbing the corporate ladder. Wearing a business suit. Working your tail off to get there too. But for what? Money, right? Shouldn’t happiness come into it too though? The bigger question is, are you happy? More money does not equal happy. And the corporate world is NOT the only path to success.
The fact is, you need to understand what your values are, as well as what makes you happy. When are you at your best? When do you feel most happy and alive? While some may feel most happy and alive climbing the ladder in the corporate world, what about the rest of us? What is your definition of success?
Stress or Peace?
Currently, I’m in the middle of looking for a new job, and I’ve been given this question by my guides. I had applied to several jobs, and suddenly realized I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted. But as I was sitting and thinking about it, I had a beautiful message come through on an app on my phone that said, “peace is more rewarding than anything that could come from a stress-filled existence.” And I was like, “yes! Exactly!” And I got very clear on my definition of success.
For me, I know I can get overwhelmed very easily, and I always have a lot on my plate. So I know that for me, peace is everything. The slower the pace, the calmer my life, the better. I need to be in the divine flow too, and that takes surrender – not constant action. There are and will be busy times, I know, but that can’t be my normal day to day. I need balance in a big way. Honestly, I believe everyone does, but only some people honor that – but again, everyone is different.
Just Be You
Some people feel happiest having a home base, others would rather be a bit more transient in their life. Some like to spend a lot of time alone, others would rather be surrounded by people all the time. The important part is to know yourself. To know how you thrive. To know what makes you truly, deeply happy and joyful. And only then can you really redefine success for yourself.
As I consider job opportunities and options right now, I know what I need to do. I need to assess how each one would fit my vision of happiness. Not my father’s vision, not my friend’s vision, and certainly not our society’s vision. I need to do what I know is best for me. What will make ME the happiest.
Balance is Key
One of the problems in our world right now though, around our overall definition of success, is that it has been a male energy dominated, ego-based vision of success. It’s very lower chakra based – around security (money), sexuality (physical attractiveness/financial attractiveness), and confidence (being the winner and beating everyone else to the top). Where we need to look at redefining success is by balancing those lower (male) chakras with the higher (female) energy chakras around connection to the divine, intuition, vulnerable and compassionate communication, and the center of it all – the heart and love. I believe we need to come back to a more heart centered world, which means a balance in all of it, with love at the core. Because when it’s all balanced, you can have it all. Peace, money, love….
For me, I see that I do need money, and want to do a job that pays well, clearly. But I also want to do one that I enjoy. That on some level, I love doing it. That makes me happy and I wake up feeling good about what I’m doing. But then there are the elements of self-care and spirituality for me that also have me wanting more balance. To not work much overtime, and to make sure I have plenty of time away from work to take good care of myself, to have a spiritual and a self-care practice, and also to just relax and enjoy my personal life. I want a job that I can turn off at the end of the day, and not have it in the back of my mind or waking me up at night.
Follow Your Heart
When it comes to defining success you have to feel into it, and our world tells us to be logical and rational. Which will never lead you to joy and happiness. Money, maybe, but not happiness. If you want to align yourself with success, you have to find joy, peace and happiness. So what does that look like for you? How do you want to feel about your job, or when you wake up each day and think about it? How do you want to be of service in this world – does you job uplift you that way? Do you feel like you are helping? That is also key in us feeling fulfilled and happy.
I think there are so many ways for us to find balance and fulfillment in this world in our work. It might even be as simple as moving away from the 9-5 mentality. If you had more flexibility, would you feel happier? If you had more freedom, would that be enough to move you in a more positive direction? I think we need to start to evolve right where we are. Do you like your job, but maybe feel trapped by ‘the machine’, feeling like you have little control? Maybe if you changed that a bit, you’d be much happier? I do believe this is starting to change and evolve in our world, and the options are starting to open up for this. That is, workplaces being more flexible, and respecting us as humans who have lives. Who want a life outside of work.
Finding Your Happiness
These are some of the things to start to examine for yourself though. What is working and what isn’t? What would you change if you could? Could you be happier at your current job, or do you need to make a change? And really, can you find what you want in your industry, or do you need to look elsewhere?
I also wanted to address the fact that there is a lot more you can do now that will give you a ton of freedom if that’s what you want. So many more work from home, contract and somewhat free-lance options, not to mention creating your own business and following your own path entirely. Really the sky is the limit, and you can create what you want. It’s never as challenging as you think it will be. You just have to reach for it if you feel it strongly and follow your guidance.
Defining What Your Happiness Requires
So whether you re-negotiate your current job situation, or start a new one and set things up exactly as you need/want them to be – the fact is that YOU need to define what makes you happy. You need to set those boundaries and make those ‘rules’. And you need to decide what YOUR definition of success is and never let anyone push you off of that path. Because your own happiness with your life is the most important thing.
So do it – reach for your own joy. Create your OWN success story. And let it be all yours! Beautiful. Love your life people! Don’t compare yourself – just do your own thing. You will be SO happy you did!
You might also enjoy reading – Stop Worrying About What Other People Think and The Path to Your Best Life
You might enjoy listening to – The Journey to Manifesting Your Best Life – Podcast Episode 3
A book you might like to read is Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team – by Simon Sinek
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