What I do on boring afternoons: Lounge around and make quirky photos on my iPhone.
Not long ago, in the middle of a weekday, I was feeling restless and completely bored. It was pouring rain, so I didn’t want to go on a walk, and it was unlikely that I could arrange a social get-together with friends on such short notice.
I felt completely stuck and very bored.
Then I realized something.
Everyone, in every profession (from entrepreneur to president to waitress), in every corner of the earth, probably has boring days like the one I was having. Even the busiest of business owners likely experience afternoons where they don’t know how keep themselves occupied. At the base of our lives, we all have human experiences, like boredom and bliss.
I started thinking about what in my own life will truly change when I reach my own version of “success.” It’s highly likely that many of the things that make up the base of my life will actually be the same. I will still have friends (even if they are different friends than those I have now), family, and my sense of home (no matter where I geographically live). I will make delicious and healthful meals every day, and go on walks. I also imagine that from time to time, I will still clean toilet bowls, even when I have a house cleaner (because I kind of like cleaning toilet bowls).
Even when I “make it big” in my industry, I will probably have another (or many more) boring afternoons. Knowing this helps me take a little pressure off myself.
It also made me realize that if the base of my life is likely to stay fairly constant, I am actually very close to what I consider to be my “successful life.” Success is a lot like my current life, with a few additional desirable experiences added onto it. We all define success differently – for you it may be based on a certain income amount, an experience, or a certain achievement. In case you’re curious, I’ve listed out my own personal definition of “success” at the bottom of this article.
You are also very close to your own version of success! (Exciting, right!?!) It’s likely that your basic experience of being human will still be there for you, to support your new experiences and impressive achievements.
Tak
e a few minutes now to write down what “success” looks like to you. It’s important to become very clear about your own personal definition, so that society doesn’t try to define it for you.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, here is my personal definition of success, as of March 2015. This particular list is focused more on business and monetary success.
~ I make plenty of money every month, and that amount is likely to change, depending on my needs and desires.
~ I never have to check my bank account to make sure that I have enough money to go to the grocery store.
~ I travel at least one week out of every month, 12 months a year.
~ I often relocate for 1-3 months at a time, in other locations around the world. I continue to run my business from abroad.
~ I am hired as a speaker internationally, and flown to locations throughout the world to give keynote speeches and to teach.
~ Several of my favorite authors and teachers are friends on a first-name basis.
~ My refrigerator is always full of delicious ingredients.
~ I can buy a piece of clothing whenever I find an item that appeals to me. It could be a $150 winter coat, or a $10 shirt.
~ I have accumulated plenty of extra funds, which means that buying a $1500 training program and a $1500 laptop in one week is not a financial stress.
~ I donate money if my intuition tells me to.
~ I am able to buy my friends and family plane tickets so that I can take them to countries we’ve both never been to.
© 2015 Ava Waits
Ava Waits is an inspirational speaker, business mentor, and forthcoming author. She believes that making money should feel like bliss, and through her work, she helps innovative women build service-based businesses that richly fund their lives.
Clients worldwide have used Ava’s processes to release financial constriction and bring more business opportunities and income into their lives. For more information, to view article archives, and to schedule a Strategy Session to discuss your business visions, please visit www.AvaWaits.com.
