What is the Key to Success in Life?

Ask this question to a room full of people and you will find each person gives you a different answer.

One might say it’s…

• Commitment, another might say it’s
• Self-Discipline
• Gratitude
• Being fully present in each moment
• Being in contribution
• Making a Difference
• The ability to multi-task, or
• Focusing on only completing only one task at time
• Setting SMART Goals
• Knowing what you want and taking action
• Tackling the most important tasks of each day first, or 
• Beginning with the end in mind
• Leaving a legacy
• Focusing on Family
• Focusing on Health
• Focusing on Self-Care
• Time Management
• Never ever quitting…

Ariel Harris, Founder of Success-full-living.com asks and answers this question beautifully in her guest post below, the second in our series on Conscious Living.  

You can find Ariel’s first post on Inspiring Mompreneurs: Food for the Body and Soul of our Kids – Conscious Eating

You can find Ariel’s third post on Happy Human Pacifier: How to Raise Compassionate Kids – Conscious Parenting

What is the Key to Success in Life?  Choosing Conscious Balance

That sounds like a mouthful doesn’t it? I mean, after all, we are constantly on the search for the elusive sense of success. Ultimately though, it is ours to choose how we define success, isn’t it?

So what is the key to success in life? 

The answer:  Choosing Conscious Balance

Huh, let’s look at that. What do we mean by conscious balance?  Or for that matter, even our definition of success. Especially in work and life balance.

We know how we feel as worker bees. Constantly on the go, never a moment to just be. And it starts to catch up on us. We feel stressed and disconnected. And perhaps start to feel not quite so energetic or healthy.

Are we willing to explore our lives at this point? That is the proverbial question.

I like to, only half teasingly, say that at some point in my life, I became a Reformed Type A personality.

But it took intense life events to force me to look at how I was not consciously living in my own best interest. For many of us, and I know this was so true of me, I think we are not always ready to see there are other options.

Sometimes we are so caught up in what we think we are expected to be or do, that we lose sight of what we truly need to be healthy or fully engaged in our own life.

So how do we know when we are not in balance?

THE WARNING SIGNALS OF IMBALANCE

Argh, do we even bother to listen to those faint or sometimes blatant warning signals? You know the signs:

• exhaustion
• short fuse
• loss of joy
• isolation
• not feeling great
• no time for anything but work

I, for sure, totally ignored that I was working myself into an unhealthy situation.

After all, as a single parent, working 65 hours a week was not a question.

It was necessary.

Or was it?

Today we have so many other ways to choose our own path.  And it comes down to our willingness to choose what is most valuable for us to be living in a state of peaceful, fulfilling balance.

The balance of honoring all that is sacred and valuable to our core truth.

And when we find that balance and live it, we not only change our lives but impact those around us.

OUR CHOICES, CONSCIOUS Success or External Success

I think one of the hardest choices is determining where our true needs and values lay.

Where or how do we really want to use our time?

We have all heard that life is not a dress rehearsal.

So where are our values when it comes to our life’s path?

Do we really want to be chasing our dollar dreams, fulfilling our hearts or …fill in the blank?

And let me make it really clear here. Having wealth does not automatically come with the judgment of hierarchy or good vs. bad. Money is just another energetic exchange. How we choose to classify it or give it meaning, is where we run into a wall.  And that is where the choice of consciousness comes into play for me.

If we just want money for the sake of how we will be perceived in our community or family, that chase will ultimately be empty and unfulfilling.

If instead, we see our way of having and accruing our finances as an expression of our own worthiness and creativity, money flows in a very different way. Because then, we are making the conscious choice to jump into our own power.

And that also gives us choice as to how hard we choose to work. And what kind of time investment is balanced for the best interest of our family and our health.

So the question is whether or not we are choosing our daily life as an expression of our true self or what’s defined by society? And it is in the conscious choice of defining our needs that we come to terms with our own sense of success.

And that is a deeply personal place. My sense of success has truly changed. I am no longer seeing success as the McMansion.

But rather..

• How many people have I had the privilege of connecting with and brought some sense of joy or peace to their lives?
• How often am I in a position of choosing giving love and compassion?
• How am I using my creativity as the venue for self-expression of my own truth?

In choosing to live Success on our own terms, we consciously forge our union with the Universe and then live in Inner Peace.

MEDITATION FOR BEING

When we make the choice to be in a state of being, we are acknowledging the peace of this moment. That does not mean we do not take our responsibilities seriously.

It just means that at each moment we can make the very conscious choice to be present.  We do not need to hold on to any thoughts or beliefs. We just have to be. We step into the bearing witness to our lives.

In fact, wouldn’t you agree that there is no better gift we can give to each other than being fully present in our interactions?

I think there is nothing more loving or validating to give to those we love.

MEDITATION:

Ready to try this meditation?

Find a comfortable place to sit.

And promise to be gentle with yourself through this exercise, okay?

Start with a few very easy breaths.

Let your mind rest.

Say this mantra, I am living my peace. I am living my peace.  I am living my peace.

Continue saying it until you can feel your body fully relax.

When your body is in full relaxation, notice the sense of presence. It is easy, there are no should’s, and no constructs. No have to’s. No thoughts.

This is the joy of being present and being. Fully bearing witness without having to say anything or hold on to any attachments.

In this state, we radiate peace and compassion. We can call on this state anytime we choose.

We just have to choose.

The more you practice this on a daily basis, the easier your sense of being present will be.

CONCLUSION

At any moment in our lives, we are constantly faced with the gift of choice. It is in this gift that we enter into a pact of sort that defines how we will be in that choice. Being fully conscious in our choices is the ultimate step to success. For it says we are not willing to be led down a path that is not ours.

Instead, we take the reins of our lives and decide at each moment what will best serve our highest interest of truth. And at that moment we have achieved success and balance in our work and lives.

Do let me know how you are choosing to be fully present in your life. How do you see this working for you? Do you feel ready to examine the choice to be conscious and present?

 

 

In peace and gratitude,

Ariel

Founder of Success-full-living.com

An online community for self-growth and inner peace. Please take a moment and come chat.

About the Author

Hello, I am Ariel. After a long illness, I taught myself how to walk again. So here I am jumping into vibrancy. I am an artist, writer and believer in the positive, and a grandmother. My belief in the Yes We Can mindset, has opened the gates to living in possibility.

I live my life co-creating with the universe, rich in love, compassion, grace and consciousness.  Knowing, that we are all connected and willing to be of service, is a source of great peace and joy.

I am the founder of two websites. Success-full-living.com and yeswecancreatewealth.com.  I look forward to connecting with you.

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What is the Key to Success in Life to me?

My answer is very close to Ariel’s answer. To me, it’s consciously choosing happiness.  In each moment. In each choice we make. Taking full responsibility for our own happiness.

What is the Key to Success in Life to YOU?  We would love to know.  Please join in the conversation below.