What does a successful life look like? What about a successful person? For most Americans, it’s not necessary to look beyond the obvious answers. If you work hard, earn a lot of money, and rapidly gain the recognition of your peers (and employers and customers), then you’ve enjoyed success or, at least, one kind of it.
But increasingly, many of us are broadening our perspectives. Our changing values are prompting us to reconsider what a good life amounts to and the means through which such a life should be pursued.
Why Old Definitions No Longer Fit Modern Life
The first trend to take stock of involves mental health. In the modern era, we’re especially conscious of the long-term burden of stress and the effect it can have on our subjective well-being. This is particularly noticeable among young people.
This means that you’ll just as likely find someone who prefers a lifestyle that’s comfortable and flexible over one that’s geared toward rapid development and prestige accumulation. Looking more towards spending time making and maintaining deep personal relationships, that even if that means that you aren’t working Herculean hours. A trend which speaks of a more balanced personal and professional lifestyle, rather than just a singular element.
How People Are Redefining Success on Their Own Terms
Fundamentally, this means redefining success in such a way that the term encompasses not just material comfort (important though that may be), but a balance of personal fulfillment, creativity, and time for other people.
Rather than investing in early repayments on a mortgage, you might set aside a portion of your monthly budget for a special date with your significant other. Rather than working overtime and paying for a gym membership, you might try to build outdoor exercise into your day-to-day life. All speaking towards making sure you are making the most of your day to day life, rather than just focusing on saving for or planning the future.
The irony of this rebalancing of your life means you might actually mean more spending on the items that matter to you. For example, you might even decide it is time to affirm a commitment to your partner with the help of an engagement ring. Or spending a lot of money on athletic equipment and memberships.
In this case, of course, it might be tempting to equate the value of the gesture with the cost of the item itself. But, increasingly, we’re coming to pick out these things based not just on the perceptions of wider society, but on our own personal values. For example, if you’re a committed environmentalist, you might pick out a second-hand ring or one that’s built around a lab-grown diamond.
What This New Definition Means for Your Future
If the way that you seek to live your life is shaped mostly by societal pressure rather than your personal views and needs, then you may end up successful in the traditional sense, but that success might not translate into the prosperity that we all naturally crave. Remember you can have both, but you just have to make time for both, but some periods in your life may require more focus on one element than another.
It’s therefore a good idea to step back and reassess. What is it that you’d like your life to look like? Are you doing things now and wondering whether the bother is worth it? Whether the problems stem from an unfulfilling career, a dead-end relationship, or a simple lack of time and energy to do the things that matter, an honest reappraisal of your life can often be the first step toward forging a new, better one.
