Time With Sands – Sustainable Success

I feel that I’m successful and satisfied with my life. However, thoughts of dissatisfaction creep in from time to time. How do I know if these thoughts are a sign that I need to make a change?

— Erin G.

Do what you love. Follow your passion. Live your Soul’s purpose. 

These ideas have an almost universal appeal, and they are, of course, true. Yet how we go about achieving these is where many of us get stuck.

The last two years have brought about a paradigm shift. People want to feel fulfilled in every aspect of their lives. You might be feeling dissatisfied because your definition of success and your life goals have shifted, without your realizing. 

First, you need to redefine what sustainable success means to you so that you don’t sacrifice what’s really important for lesser goals or for a definition of success that isn’t entirely your own. Doing this requires awakening (or reawakening) the Ageless Visionary we all have inside and learning to really listen to that voice, cultivating the many characteristics that tend to come with age (but are not guaranteed!) such as wisdom, creativity, and perspective.

Next, determine what’s missing today from your present story and what will be needed tomorrow. Do your homework and consider different end scenarios. These alternative outcomes will inform the actions you will need to take.

Build flexibility into your best-case plan. Assume you will encounter obstacles, dead ends, and new onramps never imagined,  and think through what you will do about them. A plan that includes many possible avenues not only makes it more likely that you’ll reach your destination; it can also ease much of the fear that keeps you perpetually in the planning stage.

Make the future happen your way! It’s never too late. In fact, it’s the perfect time!