By Katy Blevins
Success. What is it? Do I have it? Wait... do you have it? Who decides whether or not we are successful?
"The fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect or fame."
I'm exhausted. Are you exhausted?
How is this definition of success working out for you? Do you feel the same overwhelm, stress and burnout that I do? Men and women alike are cracking under the pressure to perform, professionally and personally. We are desperate for change, frantically hoping for a moment just to catch our breath. We are frustrated by the constant comparisons, the divisive, competitive culture and the constant stress of being what others want us to be.
Have you ever asked yourself this question? When do I get to be me?
"The correct or desired result of an attempt."
Well, that's interesting. This definition sounds to me like success looks a little bit different on everyone. What you may choose or desire to attempt (and how you'd like for it to turn out) is probably very different from my own bucket list. Imagine that.
The beauty of life and free choice is that we are gifted with the opportunity to design a life of our own choosing. We can craft whatever we dream, strive for that which inspires us and go about our business and our lives in whatever fashion that suits us best. The freedom of personalized success is both liberating and invigorating. Do you know that you are the master of your own destiny?
Success is intimate. It's incredibly personal and blissfully unique.
Why would we allow ourselves to be bound and shackled by a "one size fits all" definition of what it means to be a success? When did this happen? How did this happen? Did you agree to it? I certainly didn't. Or at least, I didn't mean to.
Somewhere along the way, we gravitated towards a set of ideals that didn't really exist. Through smoke and mirrors, highlight reels and veiled conversations, we set the bar so high that we couldn't even see it anymore. We deny each other the permission to live in personal fullness and professional joy when we sacrifice our right to free choice and individual success in favor of the opinion and approval of others.
Are you ready to try on a new version of success?
Are you ready to slip into that one little black dress that hugs your curves just right and fits you, and only you, like a glove? You know what? Success looks damn good on you. Looks pretty damn awesome on me too. Yes, I have my own little black...set of yoga pants. And I love them. I love ME. Do you love you?
THAT IS SUCCESS.
It is time for us to break free. We all have the intrinsic right to explore our own path to success, discovering the unique ways in which we will thrive and flourish in our individual lives.
The Modern Femme™ Movement is cultivating a powerful dialogue that allows women to consider what success looks like on them. Not on their friend, husband, sister, partner, boss, neighbor...on them.
Moving away from the "one size fits all" version of success that has us all painfully bound in burnout and worry, we are embracing the self-love that gives us each the permission to celebrate the freedom of free choice and personal dream casting. We are facilitating an environment where the knowledge and resources that give us access to professionally adventurous lives are within reach, all while making sure the time we crave outside of the workplace is both protected and cherished.
When was the last time you invested in yourself? When was the last time you deliberately contributed to positive change? When was the last time you evaluated what success means to you?
When was the last time you took a breath of fresh air? When was the last time you told yourself you were beautiful and that success looks pretty freaking amazing on you?
Will you join us?
Watch the full interview on Worldwide Business with kathy ireland® HERE.
All definitions of success taken from the Merriam Webster Dictionary.