So this is what I have been up to for the last year plus plus.
I have been playing around with what is means to be successful. And I figured I wanted to go beyond just the looking successful on paper. As both you and I know, there are people (which might be the person in the mirror), who have a very healthy bank account and solid list of assets but don’t necessarily feel happy or fulfilled or joyful or in love with life.
I wanted to understand how to feel more successful in my whole body. And I figured if I put the word AUTHENTIC out the front of SUCCESS the conversation might take a more empowered and revealing direction.
So this is some of what I found as I wrote The Guidebook to Authentic Success.
TIP 1: Money is not enough
I am not going to insult your intelligence here.
You and I both know – at an intellectual level – that rolling in cash is not going to bring a deep sense of happiness and fulfillment into your life. We all know unhappy and unfulfilled ‘rich’ people. Money is just not enough. Life is more complex, and diverse, and asks more of us.
However…
Regardless of us knowing this intellectually, we are still regularly emotionally seduced by media, society and the people around us, that maybe, just maybe, we WOULD be a whole lot happier if we had more money.
Research suggests that above a certain level of income (a bit past the survival level), increasing income correlates with only minor increases in happiness. I know you know this. 😉
So what is to be done?
TIP 2: There is more to the picture
I spent a good couple of years researching and constantly asking myself this question ‘What does it take to experience a deeply and authentic level of success?’
I am not arrogant enough to think I have found the answers to all the problems that anyone has or will ever have. Although now I have a much greater awareness of the things that are essential to focus on if we want to experience a deeper level of success, happiness, vitality, fulfillment and love of life.
The key is that in addition to focusing on a healthy financial flow of money, we need to use part of our energy to focus on and work on, other key areas of our lives. The specific areas of attention I came up with, in order to fell deeply successful, were:
– Daily Positive Emotions (aka: Joy)
– High Quality Relationships
– Feeling Connected
– Growing
– Meaningful Goals
– Optimum Health and Vitality
– Being Yourself
If we don’t invest conscious attention and energy on these aspects of our lives, we are leaving our lives, our feelings, and our end results to chance or hope.
If a person does not take care of their health, having bucket loads of money is probably not enough to remove the pain, or fragility or lack of vitality they are experiencing in each moment.
If someone is loaded with cash, but the close relationships in their life suck, are they really successful?
How about if someone is lonely, will money make the difference?
(Yes, I can hear what you are thinking, but I am not sure that buying friends, followers and ‘company’ is likely to truly bridge the gap ;-))
Like I said at the start. I know you know this. BUT so many people forget to pay attention to the other stuff that really matters, when they are fixated on making more money. My desire for you is that you not only go for increased wealth, but you do it consciously aware of your relationships, your health, your connection to others, and in a way that brings a big fat ol’ smile to your face.
I want you to laugh and dance. To truly make a difference in your life and the life of others. To have a fun and adventurous life. And to live your life by conscious intent.
TIP 3: My fingers are sore from typing
I could write a lot more here about what I have learned and specific strategies and tools I have used with myself and my clients to deepen the feelings of success; but after writing a book, my typing fingers need a rest. 😉
So if you want to go deeper, and tap into my very practical ideas for ticking off the 8 pillars for experiencing authentic success, then do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of my book here for less than a buck (until 20 Feb 2017). And yes, you can also tell your friends about this offer. Amazon reviews are also greatly appreciated. 🙂 🙂
The paperback version will be available from 20 February 2017.
You can go to my Amazon Author page here.
Thank you in advance for buying a copy of my book and for letting me serve you with what I have learned over the last 47 years or so. 😉
I am honoured to be here, and proud to serve!!! 🙂 🙂
Have a super awesome days and wishing you all the very best for 2017.
Cheers
Carl