I put my pants on the same way as everyone else—sitting on the bed jamming two legs in at the same time. I deal with my problems the same way as everyone else—taking it one day at a time and hoping for the best. And I certainly understand I’m a work in progress like everyone else. I understand the choices I make today affect who I’ll be tomorrow and that today’s problems don’t need to be solved tonight. I understand I will be frustrated with myself, but that all great things take time. I understand that getting anywhere worth being in life means working through the pain.
Looking back on my past, I’ve had great success. I might not have known it in the moment, but I smile thinking back on it now. I’m not talking about the obvious success of graduation, landing my first job, or buying my first car (although those are outstanding milestones and shouldn’t be taken lightly)! I’m talking about the little victories that happen between your 8:00AM coffee and the late-night episode of the Bachelorette. The every-day hero moments that better yourself or help better someone else.
What Does Success Mean to You?
So when I think of success, I think of what it means. Success isn’t always dressed with a promotion or way-to-go from your boss. No. Sometimes success is a personal gain that brings a sense of accomplishment and achieving smile to your face.
Success is completing a long day’s work with a positive attitude when you felt like giving up. Success is going to the gym and tackling that aerobic routine you’ve been attempting for weeks. Success is pushing yourself a little further than you did they day before. It may seem like small steps, but every moment counts. Sometimes you don’t realize how successful you reflect on your journey. Success is key to being a work in progress.
The mind is a very powerful tool. Use it for good and you’ll see yourself reach your highest potential. When you begin to think of where you see yourself in 5 years, what comes to mind? You may start to rack up a list of things you want to get done in order to seem goal oriented and organized. Where will you work? Where will you live? Who might you be with?
Here’s a secret you may not Know
It’s okay not to have a concrete goal. When I think about myself in five years, it’s more of a blurry mess than well-defined picture. Sure, I have ideas and aspirations, but no company names or job titles come to mind.
I understand that my work in progress means letting my journey guide my professional life. New opportunity can present itself and steer you in a completely new direction. Don’t let your well thought-out plan hinder an amazing offer that may come your way. It’s okay to go with the flow and along the way, learn what works best for you.
Of course, part of being a work in progress means you’ll have doubt. In the midst of creating your goals and can-do attitude, something will go wrong. Someone or something will tell you no, you can’t. What if you fail? What if you’re not good enough? Doubt can block your outlook and change your point of view. It’s especially easy to doubt yourself after you have failed. You may not realize it in the moment, but failing just helped you become a little more successful.
If it weren’t for trying and failing, there would be no victory in success. Failing reminds us we’re human and helps us see when we can push ourselves further and when we’ve taken on too much. Nothing worth having comes easy and it may seem like you’re struggling to pull yourself through your next goal. Keep yourself hungry for what you want and where you see yourself. Your best work and greatest accomplishments can come from some of the toughest tasks and failure you’ve had in your life.
You’ll begin to notice when you persevere through the highs and lows of you journey, your hard work is sure to pay off. As a work in progress, going through the stages, battles and accomplishments will cycle naturally and will mold you into a greater you. Surround yourself with inspiration and keep your goals on the horizon.
Learn from yourself, your failures and your success—you’ll surprise yourself with what you’re capable of. You’ll always be a work in progress. Working on yourself is one of the most important investments you can make. But remember, you’re still human and it’s okay to enjoy the journey.
