What is Success?

What if success is not what you think it is?

Success is the outcome, right?

Success is winning the prize, right?

It is achieving the results we want, right?

While I say “yes” to these, I want to offer that maybe the outcome is not the complete prize. Maybe the outcome (the results of your efforts) is just part of what success is.  In fact, the outcome is a MINISCULE PIECE OF WHAT SUCCESS IS.

Yet we’re taught the opposite of this. We focus only on results. We focus only on achieving the outcome. Yes, we should keep goals in mind, but we must begin to see this different. Every step we take, every effort we make is success.

 It is going to take massive effort, time, commitment, and change to get where you want to go. This is hard. Not many can or will do it. If we’re changing, growing, and evolving - this is success. The very thing we think is just a steppingstone, a means to an end, is success!

We absolutely cannot control the outcome. We cannot control outside factors. We can, however, control us. If we commit and we do the things we set out to do, and we do not quit - that is success. That is the joy. Folks, that is the journey of life. That is where happiness is. Loving ourselves enough to be committed, to show up, and to change. To do the challenging thing.

 If you wait to feel joy until you have “arrived” you will spend 99% of your life in misery. In holding your breath until you get somewhere because we never fully arrive. There is always another “there”.

Take time this week and be joyful. Take joy in trivial things. Take joy in the steps you are taking. Consider it a success. Celebrate yourself, celebrate your efforts. Do you want to lose 15 pounds and today you did that workout, and you ate those vegetables? That is success!! Do you want a better relationship with your in laws, so you texted them a happy day? That is success! I encourage you to reflect on where you are holding back joy because you are waiting for the result, and begin to celebrate where you are right now. 

Life is meant to be lived.  Live it joyfully.