What Would Happen If You Repurposed Your Idea Of Success?

It's worth finding out

Why is it that we don’t allow ourselves to revel in the joy of success despite our grandest achievements?

When our success doesn’t happen in real-time, it’s easy to abandon our efforts and move on. And that’s a downright damaging habit.

What would happen if you gave yourself more opportunities to feel good about the small steps you take towards your goals each day? You know, the seemingly inconsequential things you do to keep moving forward.

Is it possible to repurpose your thoughts about success and change your life for the better?

I think It's worth finding out.

After returning to Michigan, I checked my biggest dream off the list.

I had made it as a professional belly dancer in the Middle East.

Yet somehow, I felt like a failure. I was already on to thoughts of “why didn't I do more?” and “I’ll never be able to top that.”

My limited view of success was my most destructive thought habit of all. I didn't take the time to acknowledge my long-term success.

I squashed it by wondering why I didn't get there sooner.

Ugh. How depressing, right? Why is it never enough?

Technology maintains our race to the finish at a dizzying pace, and instant gratification fuels the fire.

What if you took a few moments every day to recognize the many things you do in a day that move you forward, closer to your dreams?

Why success doesn’t look or feel the way you think it will

Success never used to look the way I thought it would. I was always off in some distant land daydreaming about the past or the future.

Ignoring my day-to-day wins, I was obsessed with things I hadn’t achieved yet, or things I should have already achieved.

Nothing was big enough or now enough for me.

Your definition of success applies a filter to every experience.

Is your idea of success to have your new youtube channel blow up after a few weeks? Will you feel like a failure if it happens, but it takes 2 years?

You limit yourself when you limit your idea of success. It feels like sh*% and zaps all your motivation. It's a vicious cycle that provides zero opportunity for real personal growth and development.

Perhaps it’s time to clarify what you expect from yourself. Are your core beliefs helping or holding you back?

Are you supporting yourself the best way you can?

Repurpose your idea of success

While your thoughts are doing a dance routine between the past and future, there is no room for matters in the present — the only place that counts.

If you don't direct your thoughts, they run rampant, creating a default thought pattern that disempowers you.

How is your relationship with success going these days? Does it serve who you are and where you're at today? “Relationship” is the operative word here.

It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. I still have my days. But now, I take a few moments each day to recognize the small wins that maintain momentum in my life.

The fact is, there is a good chance your current version of success is no longer relevant to who you are.

Recognize the limitations you place upon yourself. Ask questions. Seek out your patterns and be honest with yourself.

Are you moving in the direction of your goals or coasting through life wherever the waves take you?

The past and future tango leave no room for wielding your power in the now.

Perfectionism is a big juicy excuse to do nothing

I used to live by the credo: if I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.

Ugh. What a wretched way to live.

There's an old Zen proverb that says the obstacle is the way. This tiny combination of words is the holy grail of growth. It blasts the pointless pursuit of perfectionism to smithereens.

Literally, the obstacle is the way. There is no way around it, only through it.

What I failed to understand is doing things badly is part of the process of getting anywhere you want to go in life. Uncomfortable though it may be, one must suck it up.

Do not systematically rob yourself of the right to try, fail, and grow.

This thought pattern will keep you chasing your tail. Perfectionism prevents you from giving it a go, the very thing you must do to be successful.

Please don’t get caught in the sticky web of perfectionism because it’s a cleverly dressed disguise for fear.

Acknowledge more success in your life

It's time to take an honest inventory of your success O’ meter. What things did you do today that went your way?

Deconstruct what it means to be successful and reframe your experiences to bend your thinking towards success — not away from it.

If success only looks one way to you, it's going to be a long road.

Success has no way of making itself known to you if you cannot recognize its beginnings — you must allow yourself to recognize its beginnings.

Just like many things in life, first, you have to believe it's possible. You can definitely change your life. Believe it.

Redefine what success looks like and take back your power

Success can be the culmination of a single moment or a series of stretched-out moments pieced together. How you choose to paint the picture is up to you.

Why not shift your version of success to meet you right where you’re at today?

It’s a cop-out to keep saying I’ll change when I have this, that, and the other in order. This is fear talking you out of a good thing.

Learning to see beyond the filter of limited success and recognizing your wins is a big deal — and there's more!

It feels flipping amazing — even life-changing!

The gift of a new day is profound

Hit the reset button every day — because in doing so, you create a landing pad for daily success. Keep the door open.

Your thoughts are habits worth changing.

If you can expand your current view of success, you can change your relationship to it. Take the first step.

When you shift your mindset to encompass more — you get more back — more growth, more confidence, more moments that propel you forward.

Final thoughts

So, what happens when you repurpose your thoughts about success?

By changing your relationship with success, you can change your life.

How do you do it?

1. You tell perfectionism to piss off and meet yourself where you’re at

2. You maintain the necessary momentum to get to where you want by recognizing small wins

3. In learning to celebrate small wins you give yourself more opportunities to feel empowered and motivated every day

4. Most importantly, you change your life for the better.

Be certain your idea of success is relevant to who you are today.

Allow your idea of success to be more inclusive, definitely kinder, and most importantly: consistent. Repurpose your thoughts to include more, not less.

Give yourself permission to try, fail, learn, and grow — a thing your perfectionist self would cringe at.

Your power is in the present — don’t waste it.