Success. Everyone measures it differently.

Some measure it by how much money they make. Others measure it by their career path and corresponding job title. Then you have the people who measure it by the material things that they own such as the size of their house or the number of cars they own.

How do YOU measure success?

When I sat down at my computer the other day to put this newsletter together, I decided to search online to see what articles I could come up with on this topic.

You know what I got? Hundreds of articles offering me advice on how to be successful. Gave me quite a headache. It sure seems like everyone has an opinion on what I should be doing and how I should be doing it.

Here’s my take on it.

For me personally, I don’t measure success in the material things that I have, nor do I measure it by my job title (and I have a lot of those… LOL).

Success is an inside job.

I have to feel successful to be successful. You can have all the money and status in the world and it won’t matter a bit if you don’t feel successful on the inside.

Easy for me to say right?

Listen, I’ve been in your shoes. I have been in the eye of the storm more times that I care to count. I have lived through a dysfunctional childhood, childhood bullies, suicide, breast cancer, and financial challenges to name a few. I made it through to the other side because I never gave up, and I practice forgiveness on a regular basis.

What I’ve learned over the years is that you have two choices in life. You can live in anger and resentment, or you can live in love, joy and peace. If you choose anger (like I did for years) it will consume you until you can’t think of anything else. You won’t see any new fantastic opportunities because you’re too consumed with your anger and your “story.” You focus on how you should fix what is wrong in your life, and what you should be doing. You get sick all the time and you sleep a lot.

Outer focused. I did it for years.

So here is my advice.

First, you ARE worthy.

Let me say that again a bit louder.

You ARE worthy to have joy in your life.

Second, if you want to be successful, then you must first think of yourself as successful!

I suggest that you write a list of what you are proud of in your life. Write each accomplishment on a piece of paper. BRAG ABOUT YOURSELF! You deserve it!!! If you can’t think of anything but the fact that you got out of bed this morning, then build on that.

Now read the list.

See? You are already successful.

Now choose your new path and start walking!

As I said before, you are worthy.

And when life and stress get you down?

Look up my friend. Look up.