Success Is Freedom From the Mind

What you believe about success today was decided long before you had any say in it.

While I was growing up, success was measured by external achievements and money. It's a definition that sets you up for a very loud inner critic, and a cycle of never enough.

Because how many achievements is enough? How much money? How many awards?

The truth underneath all of it was that none of that was actually success. It was a way of chasing validation. Of trying to feel enough, seen, and loved.

It took me decades to recognize this.

Every definition we hold is built on beliefs. And beliefs are just thoughts we keep repeating resulting in the same behaviour (action or inaction). This leads to the same results, again and again. A self-fulfilling prophecy.

For example if you believe that you are capable, resilient, and always find solutions, your life will not only look, but feel very differently and therefore take different actions resulting in a different life than if you only see problems instead of solutions, if  you believe you are unworthy, timid, lack confidence, think you're too much or not enough.

For the last two years, I've had my new definition of success on a post-it note on my desk and it had these five elements:

1) Relationship with self.

2) Connection with those who add to my peace, joy, and trust, not take away from it.

3) Listening to my body. Prioritizing rest, creativity, time in nature.

4) Health and energy

5) Time to do what I love with the people I love.

This summer, with the home residency and the time to actually reflect and let go of situations that were not fulfilling, I can finally boil it down to one sentence.

Success is finding freedom from the mind, because from there, you can do what you love in the company of those who love you for who you are...all while feeling peace, connection, love and gratitude in the moment without needing anything to change.

It's a full wholehearted acceptance of who we are while expressing ourselves and our needs.

That's it. That's the whole definition now.

What's your definition of success?

With love,

Katherine