The Ingredients for a 'Successful' Year

During the course of this year I've thought deeply about what success really means to me. When you strip back the idea of 'material success,' what is it that truly makes you feel good and like you are living well?

It probably isn’t money or material things really - because people can have a lot of money and still not love their life. We have to look beyond that. And often, it's by focusing on the ingredients that are right for us that brings all manner of other kinds of success with it.

Lets Go Fearwards 👇

Your ingredients of success

I truly believe we can avoid so much unnecessary struggle and comparison if we take the time to carefully define concepts like success for ourselves. When we don’t, we can unknowingly conform to other people’s definitions and expectations, driving ourselves forward with a sense of what we ‘should’ be doing- rather than what feels true and good for us. It’s no wonder we end up feeling empty, discontent, or like an impostor no matter how hard we work or how much we achieve.

And when we have no definition at all, I’ve seen this lead to endlessly moving the goalposts, leaving us feeling inadequate, unfulfilled, and lacking purpose, not appreciating all of the incredible things we've achieved and are.

So this week, I’m encouraging you to pause and reflect:

What does your version of success in life look like?

What would it mean for you to carry that definition in your heart as you step into 2025?

I've found I like to explore this as if I were creating a cake (bear with me!), it's fun and easy to ponder or journal on questions like these to create a vision of success on your terms:

What ‘ingredients’ would you combine? What values, experiences, and priorities will make up your unique recipe?

What kind of ‘flavour’ would it have? Is it bold and adventurous? Gentle and comforting? Sweet with a hint of spice?

What would the ‘texture’ be like? Would it be light and fluffy? Dense and rich? Smooth or full of surprises?

How many layers? What areas of life, career, relationships, health, personal growth will you focus on?

How would it be decorated? How would you describe the overall look of it and the finishing touch that makes it undeniably yours?

What's my 'cake' like?

For me, as I've pondered my ingredients for 2025, success looks like a blend of personal growth and leveraging my strengths, interesting work and people, in-person connection both with loved ones and professionally, as well as an overriding feeling of lightness and fun while I'm about it. A decent helping of workshops, speaking opportunities and coaching, sprinkled with travel and new experiences. I want my year to feel intentional yet spacious, with time to reflect, recharge and indulge in the moment. Gosh that feels SO good to read back!!

If I were to borrow someone else’s definition of success, I think I’d choose this one by the ever-wise Maya Angelou:

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

What a beautiful place to start.

This week, I’d love for you to share your ‘recipe for success’, even just one ingredient, with me.

Here's to inspiring each other to own 2025 with a definition of success perfectly and uniquely blended to us.