Profitable businesses, high-ranking executive positions, or good marriages are all the hallmarks of traditional measures of success. Yet, many people who have achieved any or most of these don’t feel fulfilled. It seems that success must now take on a new meaning.

Achievement of personal happiness is success redefined. Let’s see what this new perspective calls for.

Switching from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset involves focusing on the journey toward achieving the end goal. This means paying attention to the whole experience and learning from it. In such a mindset, mistakes are valuable lessons, not setbacks. Success is measured by personal development, meaningful relationships, and the degree of learning and acquiring life skills along the way.

The traditional fixed mindset only looks to achieving the outcome. It doesn’t take risks and often sees mistakes, even minor ones, as failures.

Gratitude Rather Than Competition

Being thankful even for the littlest things and seeing the good in situations gives you a positive outlook. This grateful approach reflects in your speech and behavior. Often, people respond to such positivity, making them more inclined to help you along your way.

Healthy competition is good. But people who believe in competing, no matter the cost, could lose their major source of happiness: their relationships with friends, acquaintances, and family.

Valuing Relationships over Outcomes

Those who value triumphs at the expense of relationships could find themselves alone in their victory. Sure, they gain new friends but they are usually the fair-weather sort, not genuine allies.

A major part of being successful is being in company with people with whom you love to be around. These people can challenge, inspire, or pick you up in your darkest moments.

Healthy, supportive relationships are more of a treasure than the empty trophy at the end of the road.

Living Life On Your Terms

Stop and listen to yourself. Focus inward and answer these deep personal questions: “What gives me purpose?”, “What motivates me?”, and “What brings me harmony?”.

Don’t chase others’ definition of success. Instead, work out your life mission by measuring success on your own terms.

The bottom line is that success is a personal thing. It means a different thing for everyone. It can mean achieving a work-life balance or reaching one’s potential. But to arrive at success, you need to have a mindset that values growth, thankfulness, harmony with self and others, and personal purpose.

Photo Credit: Emilyvenz