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Do you ever feel like no matter how much you accomplish, true success always seems just out of reach? Maybe you've hit major milestones but still feel unfulfilled—or you're constantly pushing toward the next big goal, wondering when you'll finally feel "successful."
What if success isn't about reaching a destination—but about experiencing the right feelings along the way?
In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, we challenge the traditional definition of success and explore a powerful mindset shift: success is a feeling, not just an achievement. Learn how to align your goals with the emotions you truly want—fulfillment, growth, confidence—so that success becomes something you experience daily, not just something you hope to reach someday.
Listen now and start shifting your definition of success to something more empowering!
5 powerful mindset shifts to redefine success (that will change how you set goals)
Most people define success by external achievements: hitting financial goals, landing a promotion, buying a dream home. But what if the feeling of success matters more than the outcome? Here are five success principles that can transform the way you approach your goals—and help you start feeling successful right now.
- Mindset Shapes Your Experience: The way you define success impacts how you experience progress, setbacks, and even daily life. If success only happens when you reach a goal, then most of your journey will feel like a struggle. But when success is a feeling, every step forward can feel fulfilling. Try This: Instead of asking, "How far am I from my goal?" ask, "How am I already living my success today?"
- Self-Awareness Leads to Better Decisions: Many people chase goals that don't truly fulfill them. They pursue what looks like success rather than what feels like success. When you define what success feels like for you, you gain clarity on which opportunities to say yes to—and which to avoid. Try This: Write down the top three emotions that define success for you. Use them as a filter for every major decision.
- Balance Prevents Burnout: Pushing too hard in one area of life while neglecting others leads to stress and dissatisfaction. True success isn't about sacrificing health, relationships, or peach of mind—it's about harmony. Try This: If one goal is consuming all of your time and energy, ask, "How can I pursue this goal without sacrificing the things that make life feel meaningful?"
- Small Wins Matter More Than Big Outcomes: If success only comes at the finish line, you're missing countless opportunities to feel fulfilled along the way. Recognizing daily progress builds motivation and confidence. Try This: Keep a "Success Journal." Each day, write down one way you made progress—big or small.
- Intentional Planning Makes Success Sustainable: Success isn't just about setting goals—it's about setting yourself up to enjoy the process. Planning with emotions in mind helps prevent burnout and makes follow-through easier. Try This: Before committing to something, imagine your future self following through. If it feels overwhelming, adjust your plan.
Our Best Year Ever Blueprint course is designed to help you create a plan and implement a system to help you go after your goals in a way that allows you to adopt this mindset while doing so. Check it out if you are ready to embrace feelings of success as you pursue your goals.
More ways to listen:
Main Takeaways from "success is a feeling"
- Success is a feeling, not just an achievement: If you only define success by external goals, you may never truly feel successful. Shift your focus to how you feel along the journey.
- Identity your personal success feelings: What emotions define success for you—confidence, fulfillment, peace? Let those guide your decisions.
- Plan for success with feelings in mind: Consider how your goals and schedules will impact your emotions, energy, and overall well-being.
- Progress is the real success: Success isn't about the final destination—it's about consistent growth and action.
- Track and celebrate your wins: Acknowledge and appreciate your daily progress to reinforce the feeling of success.
When we limit success to a single event, we rob ourselves of limitless opportunities for joy and confidence.
For an in-depth exploration of these takeaways and more, be sure to listen to the full episode below.
Tips for applying these takeaways:
Want to apply these insights to your life? Here are some actionable steps you can take today:
- Define Your Success Feelings: Write down three emotions that represent success to you.
- Use Those Feelings as a Decision Filter: When faced with an opportunity, ask, "Will this help me feel more [your success feelings]?"
- Plan with Feelings in Mind: Make sure your schedule and goals align with how you want to feel.
- Recognize Progress Every Day: Keep a success journal or use a visual tracker to celebrate small wins.
- Say No to Misaligned Goals: Avoid commitments that drain your energy and don't align with your true definition of success.
Tune in now, and start creating a life where success feels as good as it looks!
final thoughts: success isn't something you chase—it's something you create
What if you could wake up every day already feeling successful? By redefining success as an emotion rather than an event, you can experience fulfillment, confidence, and joy—without waiting for an external achievement to validate it.
What does success feel like for you? Listen to the full episode now and start "successing" today!
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we and people from all walks of life share their experiences and we identify the lessons, blessings, and success principles that life is providing—lessons that we can all take advantage of and learn from if we pay attention.
If you're ready to step into your full potential, make sure to listen to the episode and share it with someone who could benefit from this powerful message. And don't forget to subscribe to Recounting Life Lessons and jump onto our Insider email list for more insights, actionable tips, and empowering stories.
We are Sione & Alana
Co-Hosts and Owners of
Recounting Life Lessons
We're a married couple from Hawaii who are now living in Vancouver, Washington.
Two things that we are passionate about are:
1) Uncovering the success principles and life lessons that help us all grow into our best selves.
Our favorite ways to uncover success principles and life lessons are by sharing stories from our own adventures and interviewing inspiring guests from all walks of life on our podcast.
2) Making personal growth and consistently leveling up in your life simple and sustainable, no matter what your circumstances are.
We take special care to craft the programs and resources we create, in a way, that keeps things simple and easy to follow-through on.
Through our blog, podcast, courses, and programs, we aim to empower you to grow into your best self, live with purpose, and make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
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