Living A Successful Life: The 10 Subtle Signs

Living A Successful Life: The 10 Subtle Signs

“You build a successful life a day at a time.”

—Luo Holtz

But, what does success mean to you, anyway? Is it having great wealth, earning a degree, living an extravagant lifestyle, becoming an influential person, marrying the hottest man or woman in your country, owning a multi-million yacht, or driving the latest car model in your block? I won’t say that your idea of success is wrong, but those certainly aren’t how success is measured. The truth is, success is a concept that means different things to different people. I mean, your definition of success would be or not be the same as others.  As you get older and wiser, you realize that the true meaning of success is more than all the material things that life has to offer.      

Have you ever tried comparing yourself to other people and felt that you’re unsuccessful despite everything you’ve earned?  Admit it. There are times that you would compare yourself with others and easily feel that you’re unsuccessful despite everything you’ve earned. We might also feel inclined to measure our life’s success based on society’s expectations and we forget what true success really means.

Suceed in life.

Below are some things that will make you realize you’ve come a long way and that you’re more successful than you think. If you’re in your 30s and feeling lost—don’t fret, because really, you are on the right track and you are actually doing great.  You have money, many people live paycheck to paycheck. Worse, many have to decide between necessities. (My wife just mentioned the other day how once upon a time she had to decide between filling a prescription for an antibiotic or putting gas in her car.)

1. You have close friends.

2. You choose the people around you.

3. You have a more positive outlook on life.

You’ve learned to accept life’s flaws and failures and see that these are normal. Instead of sulking, you turn the negative into positive by focusing on the things that you can change. If it’s beyond your control, you let it be and instead, control the things you can and see the brighter side of it.

4. You’ve bounced back from a setback.

Whether it’s losing your motivation, a heartbreak, a debt (no matter how big and small), or you got fired from a job you love, you overcame and realized that all those breakdowns can be turned into breakthroughs. You cried, acknowledge all the lessons, and got back to your feet. You’re now able to adapt to life’s curveballs gracefully and ready to face if it comes rolling back to you again.

No more being so hard on yourself! You see failure as training. You are successful if you have been knocked down by fate once or twice and have bounced back. The real world is not going to stop surprising us. We all need to grow muscles to be able to handle adversity. Your ability to deal with the ups and downs of your life and career is your power! You let others grab the spotlight.

5. You live your life on your own terms.

The pressure to live your life by society’s standards never ends. “You have to get married,” “You have to bear children,” and “You have to have a 9 to 5 job,” are probably some of the lines you usually hear. But as you grow older and get to know yourself better, you realize that you don’t owe your life to anyone.

Who cares what society says? You are self-aware and proud of your choices. You do what makes you happy because you are the one living your life, not them.   If you know what you love to do and what you’re good at, you are successful. You are less successful if you let other people — bosses, in particular — tell you what your career path should be. You are successful if you take responsibility for your life and career. If you blame your problems on other people or the Big Bad World in general, then you are still working to become successful. Successful people know they are not victims of fate. They take control of their own lives!  

6. You have a plan.

It’s a big deal just being able to understand what you want and need in your life. Whether it’s a five-year vision or even just a plan for next week, these road maps you make just prove that you have your life together.

7. You’re grateful.

Instead of focusing on the things you don’t have, you now have this appreciation for the things that are in your life. You are grateful for waking up, for being with your loved ones, for being able to afford your fave food, for having a job, and more. From the littlest of things to the grandest ones, you have this gratefulness and realization that you’re blessed enough.

8. You know your strengths and accept your weakness.

You are now confident because you finally found your niche. You feel fulfilled whenever you share your strengths and achieve something with it. On the other hand, you know that your weaknesses are nothing to be ashamed of. You’re only human, and everybody has it. You have a purpose.

9. You’re happy.

It all boils down to this: You are genuinely happy. You wake up each day with a smile on your face and look forward to what life’s gonna give you next. You are successful if you find joy in little things and celebrate every triumph, even when other things in your life aren’t going well.

10. You are successful when you remember that the point of life is the journey, not the destination.

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A multi-award-winning blogger and advocate for OFWs and investment literacy; recipient of the Mass Media Advocacy Award, Philippine Expat Blog Award, and Most Outstanding Balikbayan Award. Her first book, The Global Filipino Bloggers OFW Edition, was launched at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. A certified Registered Financial Planner of the Philippines specializing in the Stock Market. A recognized author of the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. Co-founder of Teachers Specialist Organization in Kuwait (TSOK) and Filipino Bloggers in Kuwait (FBK). An international member of writing and poetry. Published more than 10 books.  Read more: About DiaryNiGracia