Redefining Achievement: Defining Your Own Version of Success

Redefining Achievement: Defining Your Own Version of Success (Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash)

Beyond the Success Template

In a world dominated by curated social media feeds and the "hustle culture" of 24/7 productivity, it is easy to default to a "template" version of success: the high-status job, the property ladder and the visible markers of wealth. However, true psychological fulfilment rarely comes from meeting someone else’s benchmarks. Defining your own version of success is not an act of settling; it is an act of self-mastery.

Core Values vs Extrinsic Goals

The first step in this redefinition is identifying your "core values" rather than your "extrinsic goals." For some, success might be the autonomy to work from home and see their children grow up; for others, it might be the mastery of a craft or the peace of a debt-free life. In the UK, the rising "slow living" movement highlights a shift toward valuing "time-affluence", having control over your hours, over "material-affluence."

Removing the Performative Element

To build your own definition, ask: "If I could never tell anyone about my achievements, which ones would I still pursue?" This question strips away the performative element of success. When you align your daily actions with your internal compass, the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) is replaced by the "joy of missing out" (JOMO). Ultimately, success is not a destination you arrive at but the degree of alignment between your inner values and your outer life.