Success My Way

It has been amazing to watch the world bend to the idea of success. As I sit and think about the trajectory of society, it is clear that we have been groomed to see success through a rich and famous lens, which in turn has led those of the contrary to believe that success is hard to obtain. Being a millennial woman who was not raised by tangibly wealthy parents, it has been a beautiful journey growing, defining, and shaping my own idea of success. Today, I am thankful for the will to win, my personal journey, and (as cliche as it may sound) the pursuit of happiness.

Adversity is often seen as the antagonist in all of our life’s stories. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve chosen to look at said antagonist as an opportunity to continue to overcome. I’ll be transparent in saying that it literally took (what seems like) forever for me to find something that I’m passionate enough to work at without ceasing, something that I love and don’t get bored with. I acknowledged the catalyst for my purpose and once the vision became crystal clear, I felt unstoppable. It has been of the utmost importance for me to continue going after every dream placed on my heart because in the end, it’s much bigger than me. As it all continues to unfold, it’s ALSO crystal clear that adversity is inevitable BUT, the will to win continues to outweigh any WANT to quit. For me, this is a huge column of my definition of success.

It is very easy to tell someone that comparison is the thief of joy, however, it IS human nature to look at someone else’s life/success and hold your own next to theirs in juxtaposition. With the way social media works, the highlight reels of EVERYONE’S lives are on display making it easier and easier to compare. I am reminded daily that this life thing is a marathon, not a sprint and that no timetable will look the same. Grasping this concept has literally freed me from the shackles of comparison and I am grateful for my journey, as it has taught me the importance of perseverance and resilience. If you find yourself holding your current level of success to the standard that social media platforms and society have created, do me a favor and extend yourself some grace. Things are not always as they seem, and your journey/testimony is yours because 1. It is being used to further shape you into who you are called to be and 2. It is being used to positively impact those you may not know are watching. Embrace it.

As I am walking into the years that place me closer to 30 and further from 20 (yikes), it means everything to me to be doing the things that make me the happiest. My entire life, I have suffered from “yes syndrome” which is the fancy title I’d like to give my crippling inability to say NO. It is essentially impossible to reach true levels of success while being the yes man for other people, especially if it brings you zero happiness. I have found so much relief in knowing that I won’t DIE (because it felt that serious to always say yes) if I say no to things that would, in the end, stress me out, make me tired, or serve me no purpose. After all, true personal success hinges on the “yes” you give yourself everyday, not the unnecessary yes’s you give others. It has been the most fulfilling thing to watch my life blossom into what it is becoming and I feel myself settling into a place where the pursuit of my happiness has greatly contributed to my idea of overall success. It is no longer defined by others, but by me alone.

It is my hope that this blog shed a little light on the importance of setting the bar for your own success. It can be SO stressful and ultimately unhealthy dealing with the disappointment that comes with missing the imaginary mark created by society. Be patient (not lazy) with yourself and begin to walk in the power that you possess when it comes to creating whatever success may look like for you.

Remember, the societal standard is fake.

I love you!

Christiauna