Redefining Success

The word "success" is on my mind. Growing up, I equated success to having a good job and a steady paycheck. I think it also meant living "the dream" - marriage, a family, and a nice home. I worked hard to get there. I spent years in school working on a bachelor's degree, then my juris doctor, and then an MBA. I have been grinding ever since. I had the right demeanor needed to be successful. I am confident, strong, and outspoken. I put in billable hours as a lawyer, sought the perfect relationship, and accomplished the goals that I believed would impress others and signify I had made it. 

And that is where the problem lies - I was following a path designed by others. A definition of success created by a society that cherishes the masculine ideal of prosperity. I looked outward for confirmation I was doing the right thing. I regularly received affirmation from employers, colleagues, and family. Ultimately, it didn't matter. I didn't feel successful. I didn't feel like I had made it. I felt empty. I was left questioning why I pursued that goal in the first place. 

I started looking inward. I read, reflected, and learned. I learned that what qualifies as success according to the norm is superficial. I am obsessed with a new definition of "success". A custom definition. To me, it starts with discovering who you are through endless reflection. It is identifying your values and feeling confident living in those values every day. Success comes when you are able to practice your values daily while contributing to this world. My definition of "success" is when I am empowered to make decisions that align with me and my purpose. What is yours? 

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