| Many people associate 'success' with striving to | | | | you find that you've invested so much energy in |
| reach a particular material goal: a job title, a | | | | being happy that you viewed external success as |
| Martha Stewart garden, exotic vacations, or being | | | | a distraction. And you've discovered that you |
| in the right social circle. All around us, the media | | | | can't get what you want because you don't have |
| reenforces the notion that we need luxury cars | | | | the financial resources to pursue your interests. |
| and lifestyles to be happy and 'successful'. So it is | | | | As usual, the answer lies somewhere in the |
| that many people live with the constant sense | | | | balance. The glamor -- and glaring consequences -- |
| that happiness is "just around the corner" -- after | | | | of materialism have peaked, and people are faced |
| the promotion or the coveted invitation. | | | | with a plethora of choices. Opportunities for |
| Unfortunately, this measure of success can cause | | | | personal growth and contribution are limited as |
| people's sense of proportion (greed), as well as | | | | lives are spent surviving to meet only basic needs. |
| their sense of reality (what really matters), to go | | | | From a coaching perspective success is measured |
| amuck. If you measure success by the trophies | | | | by what's achieved from the inside out. By |
| you collect, you may find your satisfaction | | | | recognizing the value of the intangibles of grace, |
| short-lived. The energy of the chase can be | | | | balance and passion, as well as the comforts and |
| exciting, but it's also costly, as other facets of life | | | | pleasure of quality surroundings and material |
| get buried or neglected. You may sacrifice genuine | | | | things. |
| self-worth as just being Joe or Jane isn't enough | | | | How do you achieve balanced success? By being |
| anymore. And you leave play and spontaneity | | | | thoughtful, asking hard questions and having the |
| behind to become your role. | | | | courage to find the answers. By focusing on |
| It's not surprising that at midlife, people may | | | | identifying your core values and orienting your life |
| experience a 'crisis', finding themselves dissatisfied, | | | | around them. By identifying your needs and |
| empty, or confused. After achieving the success | | | | setting standards and boundaries to meet and |
| they were after, they realize that what they | | | | protect them. And by pursuing a purpose that's |
| have isn't what they value most. They discover | | | | larger than yourself, one that's defined and |
| they've been working to support a lifestyle | | | | focused. |
| instead of a life. | | | | You understand there will be trade-offs, and you |
| But perhaps you already know that. You've | | | | let them be, as you deepen to truly value the |
| focused on inner success -- on feeling good about | | | | challenge and the freedom that life gives each |
| yourself, on being part of a supportive community | | | | one of us to design a life as creative and |
| and developing your gifts, and feeling spiritually at | | | | imaginative and fulfilling as we can imagine. |
| peace. You've clearly developed a quality life, but | | | | What does success mean to you? |