Have you ever felt yourself falling into the trap of measuring your success by standards that others have set? If you want true fulfillment, at some point you have to decide on a personal definition of success. 

This is the first in a six-part series on coaching yourself with the right questions. This week, I received this question:

“Because of what I’ve accomplished in my career I’m often called successful, even though I don’t feel successful. The reason I don’t feel successful, and instead I actually feel a little guilty, is because I want to take a new path in my career. I don’t feel like I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing – even though I’m very good at it. Is it crazy that I’m thinking about making a career change? I think my family and even my colleagues will not be able to believe that I’m giving up the success I’ve attained to go after something that’s not guaranteed to look as successful as where I’ve been.”

We often feel a lot of pressure from what everybody else considers success, but at some point we have to be honest with ourselves about what we know we are called to do.

Start by asking the question, “What feels purposeful for you?”

You’ll never feel successful if you feel like what you’re doing isn’t what you were meant to be doing.

In my book, Successful Women Think Differently, I define success as a harmony of purpose, resilience, and joy. 

That definition starts with purpose for a reason.

You are here for a reason. People’s lives are better when they cross paths with you, and when you’re carrying out that purpose you’re always going to feel successful. 

So what does success look like in this next season of your life?

You have to be able to define success in tangible ways so you can actually measure whether you are on track. 

Only you can define what that looks like for you. If you don’t define success for yourself, you may find yourself feeling like you’re failing when you’re  not. Don’t try to live up to everyone else’s standards rather than your own.

We can all benefit from learning to ask ourselves powerful questions. I have a course called How to Coach Yourself. You can find it for free at valorieburon.com. Until next time, be intentional about coaching yourself by asking powerful questions that move you forward.

Coach Yourself

What does success look like in the next season of your life? 

Where are you trying to measure up to someone else’s version of success? 

Warm wishes,

Valorie Burton