Who are you? What’s your purpose? What does “success” mean to you? These are the big questions you need to answer for yourself. Don’t let others tell you. Don’t let media moguls or politicians or workplace bosses or spirit guides or life coaches or family and friends tell you. Sure, listen to the people you admire and trust but remember that their life experiences and their visions of success aren’t yours…

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FOLLOW YOUR HEART

The Big Questions

Who are you? What’s your purpose? What does “success” mean to you? These are the big questions you need to answer for yourself. Don’t let others tell you.  Don’t let media moguls or politicians or workplace bosses or spirit guides or life coaches or family and friends tell you. Sure, listen to the people you admire and trust but remember that their life experiences and their visions of success aren’t yours!

Only you know how you are really feeling right now. Only you know who you really are right now. Only you can know what success means for you right now. It could be a rewarding career, a happy marriage, money in the bank, service to others, spiritual realisations, peace of mind… whatever.

The right thing is hard to do

However you choose to define success make it something that doesn’t go against what you know in your heart to be true and right. Following your heart is unlikely to be easy. You’ll encounter all kinds of obstacles that block your progress and it’ll frustrate you for sure. But if following your heart doesn’t also inspire you or give you a sense of wellness at the end of the day then you’re probably on the wrong path.

Many times I shied away from self-discipline, sacrifice, and service to others. Many times I took the easy way out because I feared hardship or rejection or failure. Many times I made excuses to justify my bad choices. But here’s the thing. When I didn’t have a way out. When it was no longer a case of “I want to do it”or “I should do it” but “I must do it”. That’s when I left my comfort zone and did what needed to be done.

Why wait?

I’ve learned that I’ll never feel “ready” to take that risk. The time will never feel “right” for that leap of faith. But refusing to follow the heart certainly isn’t going to make me or you or anyone any happier.  So now when I find myself procrastinating I tell myself: “Failure is not an option. Retreat is not an option. Stop making excuses, burn the bridges and safety nets and just get on with it!”

Always be connected

Non-attachment doesn’t mean ignoring a person in need or leaving a task undone. If you see a problem, accept the challenge of solving it.

Be a modern day bodhisattva – someone who impacts positively on people and organisations through honesty, reliability, kindness, fairness, and vigilance. Refrain from harming, stealing, abusing, lying, and heedlessness. Like the Buddha says, when you help and protect others you help and protect yourself.

Set a goal. Make a plan and do what you can. Commit to developing new skills and wholesome attitudes and smarter working without attaching to outcomes.

Be adaptive and innovative; think big, make connections, and build relationships. Overcome obstacles and setbacks by harnessing the energy of commitment, determination, accountability, and gratitude. Change your tactics and revise your goals as and when necessary. Turn any failure into a success by learning and growing from the experience.

Finally, take time to measure and appreciate your progress by looking back at where you started and noting all your achievements to date. Don’t measure your progress by looking forward into the future and counting all the many problems still waiting to be resolved.

Remember ABC: Always Be Connected.