When you start a new project, ideally, you set a goal and break it into mini steps to get there. Reaching that goal usually equals success, failing to reach that goal usually means failure. But what is success? Is it really that all or nothing, pass or fail, or is there more to it?
The definitions of success you find online are very short. The google definition is “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose and the good or bad outcome of an undertaking (archaic definition)”. The Merriam-Webster defines it as “a degree or measure of succeeding, favorable or desired outcome, also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. One that succeeds…” The Cambridge Dictionary’s: “the achieving of the results wanted or hoped for: something that achieves positive results.”
These definitions, to me, fall a little short, a little flat. A little more research and you find many articles on what is success and how to define it for yourself. One had a list of 19 definitions of what success was or rather what it could be (link at the end)!
The gist of all this reading was that success must be personally set and relevant to personal goals and values. There is no one size fits all. We all have different personalities and issues and values that we need to consider when defining success for ourselves.
So, what does this mean for an anxious creative? Because our anxiety helps us anticipate (usually the worst possible outcomes), it may be harder for us to set realistic and attainable goals. Our brains say there is danger down that road to success and often we are stopped by fear and our anxiety gets triggered, no matter how small the goal to reach is. It is an uncomfortable feeling.
However, there is hope. Learning what success means to you and learning to understand yourself and what you find important (your values) can help overcome this challenge. It is motivating.
A few of the definitions that I found particularly relevant were that overcoming fears was a success. By that definition, just by starting this blog, I’ve already achieved a measure of success.
Another success definition I found was that it is something that can help others. There too, my blog has the potential to help others. Success number two. Already two successes and I’ve just started my journey!
Finally, another definition is “success is never letting disability hold you back”. I switched disability with fear (though it can be debilitating or paralysing in my case). A third success. Already. And just by finding a definition of success that fits me and my situation. The advantage of trying to find success is that you can find it. If you try to find failure you will find it too… The brain is a master at looking for the things you focus on. So, focus on success and you will already be successful. How can you not be hopeful after that?
Why is this important anyway? Why is defining success for ourselves important? And not just basing it on what others say is successful. The first reason is satisfaction. If it is not important to us and others deem us to be successful, it can create feelings of dissatisfaction. Thoughts of “I should be happy, I’m successful right?” It can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and even burnout because we are pushing ourselves to keep being successful when we are, often deep down, at odds with the definition we were given. And all because we didn’t choose it for ourselves.
If we did consciously choose our own definition, it is easier to overcome the challenges because it is important to us. The brain is weird that way. Social and family pressures makes this a hard choice to make. Sometimes we don’t even realise that what we think we want is what others want for us and not what we want for ourselves. It is a difficult choice, but it is worth it to take the time to do the work.
The second reason is confidence. Achieving success helps to boost confidence in yourself and your abilities but be careful not to think that your success is all the work of happenstance or luck (as it is a thought that can pop-up if you suffer from low self-esteem). There is probably always a measure of luck in any endeavor, but usually actions are required to achieve anything. So, if you didn’t act then you couldn’t have benefited from the lucky opportunities in the first place, right?
“The secret of success in every field is redefining what success means to you. It can’t be your parent’s definition, the media’s definition, or your neighbor’s definition. Otherwise, success will never satisfy you.”
– RuPaul
Next week, I will be exploring how to set yourself up for success.
Please leave a comment: what does success mean to you?
Please subscribe to my e-mail list and receive updates, and an easy to share pdf version of these articles once a week.
Thank you for reading! I hope for you the best of successes.
Resources (not sponsored):
Other definitions that are an interesting read:
https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/definition-of-success.html
https://soulsalt.com/what-does-success-mean/
Values exercises (discovering what your values are- important first step before you can set your success definition- free):
https://www.taproot.com/live-your-core-values-exercise-to-increase-your-success/
For me succes does not equal money but being happy at what you do.
I think that by just trying new things you are already successful. I look forward to reading your next blog.
Qu’est ce que le succès
Pour moi c’est d’atteindre ses rêves et de monter une marche à la fois, pour ne pas avoir à redescendre trop souvent,car c’est ce qui nous décourage.il y a 3 ans ,on m’avais dit que je ne pourrais plus marcher et aujourd’hui je marche 1:30hrs par jour, pour moi c’est une belle réussite.
Félicitation! Et merci pour le partage!
Question embêtante pour moi…. Je dirais que le succès est un résultat souhaité à une action entreprise. Mais… dans le fond, je ne cherche pas le succès, je cherche l’équilibre!
Un réel succès pour moi c’est de surmonter MES limites à moi.
…Et non les limites des autres!
So true, everything you’ve written. To me success is what I learn and how I stretch myself on the journey to a goal. The learning can be new habits, spiritual insights, emotional releases, an improved character.
It’s important to keep learning or we stay stuck in old grooves and it gets harder to dig ourselves out.
At any rate, congratulations on the blog and continue to stretch no matter how uncomfortable that may be. Successful people are willing to undergo discomfort in order to grow.
Pingback: How to set yourself up for success? – An Anxious Creative
Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur — Нельзя заставлять выполнить невозможное.
Aeternum vale — Прости навеки
Benevolentiae captande causa — Для снискания благоволения.
Acta est fabula! — Пьеса сыграна!
Ad usum populi — Для народного употребления.
Ad futuram memoriam — На долгую память.
Ars vitae — Искусство жизни
Confessus pro judicato habetur — прав. Сознавшийся считается осуждённым.
Ad gustum — По вкусу.
Ad usum delphini — Для использования дофином.
Cogito ergo sum
Cogito ergo sum
Привет игроманы!
Я давно увлекаюсь онлайн казино и, как многие из вас, всегда искал платформу, которая бы соответствовала всем моим требованиям. Искал и . Перепробовал множество сайтов, но постоянно сталкивался с различными проблемами: неудобный интерфейс, задержки с выплатами, отсутствие нормальной поддержки, да и просто скучный набор игр. В какой-то момент я почти потерял надежду, но решил попробовать еще один раз и наконец-то нашел Telegram . Вот несколько причин, почему я считаю его идеальным:
– Удобный интерфейс: сайт очень удобный и понятный, даже для новичков. Все нужные разделы под рукой, ничего лишнего.
– Мгновенные выплаты: проверил на себе – выигрыш приходит на счет практически моментально.
– Отличная поддержка: техподдержка реально работает и помогает решить любые проблемы. Причем они доступны 24/7.
– Широкий выбор игр: тут есть все – от классических слотов до живых дилеров. И постоянно добавляют что-то новое.
– Бонусы и акции: щедрые приветственные бонусы и регулярные акции. Всегда приятно получать дополнительные фриспины или бонусы за пополнение счета.
Понимаю, что каждому свое, но лично для меня стало настоящей находкой. Если вы тоже устали искать, рекомендую попробовать. Возможно, оно станет вашим новым любимым местом для игры.
Если у кого-то уже есть опыт игры на этом сайте, делитесь своими впечатлениями! Интересно узнать ваше мнение.
Удачи и больших выигрышей всем!
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