Here’s the funny thing about success–no one can agree what the word means. The definition of the good life varies from person to person, as one individual prioritizes career glory while another values a nurturing home life.
That means there’s no way to be successful without first deciding what you mean by the term. But it also means that, if you haven’t spent time really reflecting on your personal definition of success in a while, you could actually be closer to achieving it than you suspect.
That’s the uplifting message of a great recent Lifehack post by Carles Sabarich. In it, Sabarich contends that “lack of clarity can make it easy to believe that you are a failure, even when all the evidence in your life … points to other conclusions.” He goes on to offer a monster list of 25 tells that you’re probably more successful than you currently feel. Here are 10 in brief to get you started.
1. You aren’t controlled by your income.
“If you are able to go day-to-day without the worry that you won’t have enough money to last until the end of the month, then you are most definitely a success!” declares Sabarich, offering readers a healthy dose of perspective.
2. You don’t seek praise.
“If you aren’t hanging around waiting to get the proverbial pat on the back at work or at home, you are a more successful individual than you might even know,” he claims. “Being able to do your part without looking for praise is a strong sign of mental security.”
3. You suffer less drama.
Success isn’t all about more money and accolades. It’s also about less personal drama. “A lack of chaos points to order and harmony,” Sabarich feels.
4. You have a plan.
You might think success is about reaching your goals, but Sabarich insists it’s really about have a road map for pursuing them. “If you actually have a framework to follow in your life to reach your life goals, you are already pretty successful. Most people don’t plan ahead!” he insists.
5. You crave more.
Nope, not having everything you want isn’t a sure sign of failure. “If you tend to look for more from any situation, you are already on your way to success,” Sabarich believes. “Ambition and a desire for knowledge point to determined individuals who seek to better themselves.”
6. You offer mutual respect.
“Success tends to come from your own experiences in life, including going through stresses and difficulties,” Sabarich writes. If you’ve internalized your own hard times and use those experiences to make yourself more respectful and empathetic, you’ve already harnessed a key driver of success.
7. You wish to help others.
“Your success in this world goes far beyond the cost of your car,” Sabarich reminds readers. “If you are able to … act as a pillar of strength for colleagues, success is not too far off.”
8. You possess confidence without arrogance.
“The big difference between a successful person and someone who believes they are successful is the way they conduct themselves. If you can show some genuinehumility … you are already a successful individual.”
9. You preach patience.
“Patience is a virtue that the most successful people emit on a large-scale basis. Without patience, it can be hard to ever make the type of impact that you originally intended in any work or personal environment,” claims Sabarich.
10. You can say no.
Saying no is all about knowing what’s important to you–and what’s not. So if you can do it, know you’re already on the way to a clear-sighted understanding of your values. Or as Sabarich puts it: “If you are able to say no, then you have already avoided the need to please everyone.”
Check out the complete post for the other 15 signs that you’re probably doing better than you think you are in life.
