I wanted to start the year off with offering tools and some insight to help others on the path to success and honoring yourself in the process. The next few blogs will focus on this subject and offer steps to take in order to achieve your goals. So let's get started…
Part 1 : Defining Success
Success means different things to different people. One man can consider himself successful when he has earned billions of dollars and can own a private island. Another man considers success as having a happy family at home that he can just provide for with no billions required. Another person's success is being in perfect health. Another can say, I have a good job, I pay my bills and get to spend time with friends and family, so that is success. The point is that success has varying definitions because we are all unique and have different desires and goals. It's not always about the money. It's not always about the recognition. It can simply be just a feeling one is looking to achieve, having a sense of purpose that is being fulfilled, feeling free to express love, traveling to new places all without hindrance or fear. Those can be the things can bring you the feeling of success.
The first step on this road this journey is to define, "What does success mean to you"? When will you feel successful? It may take some time to answer this question. We can review of what we've learned in the past that has helped us progress forward or we can look at what have in the present moment. It requires us to be mindful of who we are, where we've come from and where we would like to go.
We begin our journey here on what we've learned from how others have defined success to help us get started. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Success is defined as "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The attainment of popularity or profit. A person or thing that achieves an aim or attains prosperity. The outcomes of an undertaking, specified as achieving or failing to achieve its aims".
In reviewing this definition, when we've attained our goal then we are successful. That seems simple enough. So what do you hope to achieve and where is it going to take you? How is it going to make you feel? This may take some visualization, picturing what it would look like to be your "most successful" self. It's ok if you want to take some time to figure out the answer. Here I will be providing tools and steps to help along in the process of defining your goals, to action steps to help your achieve your success.
Again, this is the first step of the journey. You define your success. No one else can give you that feeling of fulfillment when you've achieved your goal. The rush and exhilaration you feel when you know you've invested the time and work into accomplishing the goals you set forth. The feeling of knowing, you made the effort to move ahead whether it takes one or 5 years to be realized. We can decide for ourselves what it feels like and how we know we've gotten there.
The amazing thing about having free will and creating the life you want is you get to decide which direction to turn. Since this is the beginning of the journey it would help to visualize what you are looking to achieve. Some fun examples, can involve a trip to Europe or a new job. It doesn't have to be the whole pie in the sky. Here is one tool I use in my creative process.
The Vision Board technique
Each year I create a vision board to help me focus on what I wish to see for the upcoming year. Since my birthday falls in the January, I like to make all my plans for the year between New Years and the Chinese New Year in early February. I like to use the energy of my birthday to establish a baseline of where I've been, where I am and where I would like to go next.
In creating my vision board, I go to Staples or the Dollar Tree and purchase a blank poster board, any color that appeals to you. I like bright colors like yellow or green. I even used a hot pink one once. White can work just as well. Just use whatever calls to you. Then I find and use pictures from magazines or online that I like, quotes from my favorite books, inspirational sayings, and so on. Each thing I put on my board is placed with intention and used to help channel the energy of what I am trying to bring forward or manifest in my life. If you are into energy work like I am, you learn that this is using the principle of the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction states whatever you focus your energy on the universe will respond and sends back to you in kind. So it's a good idea to focus on positive things that you know you will enjoy, things you wish to work with and receive. Some examples would be a better paying job, a raise, a trip to an exotic location, happiness, s upportive friendships, romance…you get the "picture". The point is if there is an area you are looking to bring into better focus, working on a vision board can actually help you focus your energy into bringing the type of success or life you are looking to experience. Lastly, once your board is created place it in a location that you will be able look at regularly. It can be in your bedroom, living room, on your refrigerator or your cube at the office. It helps to have it in a place where you will see it often in order to help remind you to stay focused on your goals and dreams and as reminder of what you are working towards.
Visualization Meditation
Another tool I use is visualization meditation techniques. If you have 10 minutes to spare in your day, I suggest meditating on the question, "What does success look like and feel like for me?". In defining your success map visualizing what you wish to achieve can help bring clarity to the situation. Below is a meditation I've recorded for you to help along in the process.
Journaling
Writing things out helps us in the creative process. You can start with just a few words until it flows out into full sentences of what you wish to express in visualizing yourself as successful. Allow yourself to let the words come out, each time jotting them down into your notebook or journal that you've dedicated to this process. Occasionally, I've jotted some power words on a white board in my bedroom. Remember, no idea is too big to conceive and don't discount the small things that you feel will lead you on your success path.
Remember what the great Napolean Hill said: "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past."
These tools offered are just a few suggestions of practices that I've used in the creative process and I will share more as we progress further. Use whatever techniques that help you in your process. It takes time to define who you are. Sometimes it can take a lifetime, but if you are focused on achieving a particular goal it's helpful to be able to see, feel and to know what it's going to look like to you when you've reached your destination.
I invite you to join me in Succeeding with Grace and continue further on the next steps of our journey.
Until next time…
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