This has been on my mind an awful lot lately. How do I measure my success today – as a woman, a mom, a person? Am I where I want to be? Did I get what I sought out to do?
Fortunately enough – I’ve been very happy with my success, with the goals that I’ve accomplished and the surprises that threw curveballs at me and that I’ve overcome.
But like many things, the measure and definition of success can change and evolve.
I’ve felt a measure of discontent lately – not unhappiness – discontent. For awhile I’ve punished myself for being greedy. I have an incredible career, a generous, compassionate and loving husband, two beautiful babies, my health, modest financial freedom, a rather large roof over my head with plenty of space for my family to live and grow in.
Why in the world would I feel any kind of discontent?
Well, I’m human. My measure of success in my early 20’s involved many things. I knew I wanted to be financially independent. I wanted to fall in love and see the world. I wanted to have a place in corporate America. I wanted to go to work in my best outfit, nice shoes and a designer purse. And I worked hard to get to that place. I take pride in that accomplishment and where those accomplishments have taken me.
Now as my 40’s loom closer and closer and my thoughts lean more towards introspection and living a life of passion and purpose, my measure and definition of success is far different. Now I’m striving for different goals for success:
- The glam of corporate America is changing to being able to work in my own space – perhaps in PJs? In my own home? In my own studio? That part isn’t quite clear but I want to be inspired by more than the walls of a cubicle.
- Success is being able to define my day by the number of moments I get to spend with my children versus the daily 8-5 grind. My life will always include some form of work but I want to define when that work takes place and I want, more than anything, to be readily available to my children. In no way, shape or form is it okay that I only have 2 days out of 7 to be with them. That will never be okay for me. Ever.
- I want to take my kids to the same countries I went to so they can learn about history and other cultures. I want to discover new places and live new adventures through their own experiences.
- Midday margaritas or a midday movie with my husband sounds divine.
The transformation certainly didn’t come over night. It’s a culmination of my own experiences, lessons, failures and successes. I want to embark on a new journey made up of my children’s childhood, creativity, inspiration and my own passions.
How have you transformed over the years? What is your definition of success?
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