I’m back, and if you haven't noticed this is a second post this week. Unusual, huh? Well this post was inspired by something I’ve been trying to define: success. I've been thinking about it over a week now and here is what I have.
What is success? How do I define it? And how am I going to achieve it?
For the past few weeks, I’ve been using the following affirmations:
I am worthy of love, happiness, success, and all the good that life has to offer.
I welcome success into my life.
I fully believe in myself.
When I am centered and aligned within, my boundaries are strong.
I am fully committed to taking action that propels me toward success.
I am cultivating a positive mindset that helps me navigate stress with ease.
Using these affirmations has pushed me to reflect deeply on what success really means to me. How will I know when I’ve achieved it?
Recently, I’ve been following a newsletter by Ramit Sethi, a financial coach with a Netflix show, podcast, and newsletter aimed at helping people live their “Rich Life.” His ideas got me thinking: what does my own rich life look like? And is success just another way to describe living a rich life?
What Society Says vs. What I Believe
The dictionary defines success as “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose” or “a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains fame, wealth, etc.” Society tends to agree, measuring success by how much money you make, whether you own a home, have two cars, or check off an endless list of societal milestones. The promise is that once we achieve these things, we’ll feel happy and fulfilled.
But that’s not how I see it.
I’ve already achieved success in many ways, but I’m still working on aligning my life with how I envision my “rich life.” Let’s break it down:
How I Define Success
Success, to me, means:
Paying all my bills (the necessities, not just my wants).
Affording my subscriptions and indulgences every month.
Having a reliable car and a stable living space.
Truly enjoying life.
I’m not saying I need to be a millionaire to feel successful. In fact, I’m already living part of my definition of success. Since moving back to Missouri, I’ve been able to pay my bills, maintain my subscriptions, afford some weed every month, and live in a stable space. I even get to enjoy life by dining out once or twice a month.
But there’s more to my rich life.
What My Rich Life Looks Like
My rich life involves:
Paying my bills and subscriptions with ease.
Affording enough weed for the month without running out.
Dining out more than once or twice a month.
Traveling whenever I want.
Seeing movies without waiting until I can afford it.
Right now, living on a fixed income means achieving this vision is challenging. But it’s a work in progress. When I use my affirmations, I picture myself traveling, dining out as often as I want, and living my rich life.
To get there, I need to:
1. Pay off past debt.
2. Improve my credit score.
3. Continue focusing on my health and finances before reintroducing the stress of a job.
Managing my fibromyalgia and improving my sleep quality has already given me renewed energy, and I’m optimistic about working again in the future.
What About You?
How do you define success? Are you living your rich life?