What is your definition of ‘Success?’  It’s different for everyone.  For some, it may mean a large income and big house.  For others, it’s the achieving a big goal, like completing a marathon, and for others still, it may mean simply feeling happy.  Have you ever defined what your successful life would be like?

Sometimes, when we are not sure of what we want, we start living life in whatever fashion it comes to us – usually it’s formed by others around you.  This can cause feelings of loss of self and that you are not living a life that you own.  If you are going through the motions and working or doing things because you believe you “should,” or in order to please someone else, you are in fact, not living a life that is your own.  Although the appearances of success may be there - a good income, a beautiful house, a nice car - the success probably feels empty.  This is because it is not your success, as you would define it, for your life.

How do you get onto the road of really living a successful and fulfilling life?  As a coach, I often work with clients who have a dream and are ready to work to achieve it.  What I soon discover, however, is that this dream is a very watery, filmy ideal and not a crystal clear vision.  Because it is nearly impossible to achieve your goals when they are not comprehensible, the first step we take together is to clarify their vision and truly make it their own.

In order to gain a clear vision of what you want in your life, and define your personal version of success, I suggest the following steps:

1. Start by allowing yourself to daydream.  Yes, take some time alone and give yourself permission to conjure up anything you would like to have for your life.  Paint this mental picture with as many details as you can and involve all your senses.  What would your ideal life feel like?  Where would you be? What scents would come to your nose?  How does it look?  What do you hear?  Where are your hands, and what are they touching?  Who is with you?  Go wild with this! If you want to be wearing a pink boa and riding in a red Ferrari with the top down – go for it!
   
   Create your vision for all the different aspects of your life:  Finances, Career, Family, Friends, Learning, Fun and Entertainment, Spirituality and your Contributions.  Life is not segmented in any way, everything you do affects all parts of your life, so your vision must be well rounded and complete.


2. Now that you’ve given yourself this gift and have a picture of what you want, be sure to capture it in a journal, painting, vision board, or recording.  As you are depicting your ideals, you are stregenting your vision.  Does everything still feel good to you?  If you find that the pink boa is starting to tickle your nose, feel free to change it to a yellow silk scarf.  The point is that this is your dream and vision of your life.  No one else’s.


3. Next, think about what one thing can you do immediately to start yourself moving in the direction of achieving and living your successful life?  Taking the largest amount of action you possibly can will reinforce your goals.  Your psyche and your soul will see that you are serious about living life on your terms, once you take action.

Success is a journey, not a destination, but knowing exactly what you want, and starting to take steps to get there, will provide you with a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.  This is the beginning of greater things in your life.  Once you have tasted success, you will only want more and now you know what direction to head, it can only mean one thing; life is coming to you on your terms!

By Lesley Ingves

Lesley Ingves, CTACC, owner of Clear Pathway, is a certified Life Success Coach, who has been helping people through life transformations for 6 years.  She is the author of the Career Breakout Program and Compass Point: Finding and Keeping Your Direction Discovery Class.

Lesley works with small business owners to strategically design an organized path to success and utilizes her proprietary system: The C.L.E.A.R. Method to aid in doing so.  The C.L.E.A.R. Method stands for Clarity, Leverage, Establish a Plan, take Action and Reward yourself.  She teaches this method through coaching, workshops and speaking.

She is an active volunteer at the OIC of New London County helping community members with work readiness training. 

Lesley also helps her daughter Rochelle, an artist, who created the Upcycled Jewelry Project, which accepts donation of tired and broken jewelry to be redesigned and the proceeds are given to charities in our community who help women in need.

You can learn more and reach Lesley at her website. For weekly insights and ideas to gain a new perspective on your life sign up for her e-zine “Pathlight” by visiting www.clearpathway.com  

 

 

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