Well hello again!

Following on from the past couple of weeks of (cheap) healthy tips and expanding happiness, today we’re shifting to success.

A few years ago, I asked some friends and family what success meant to them. The answers varied greatly and generally reflected where they were in their life journey and what they valued most. For example, new parents often replied that successfully negotiating a baby/family through a daily routine and then getting to bed themselves was a huge success. Others who were more motivated by their careers had promotions and perhaps finances in their definition of success (but not always). Athletes understandably often had their next sporting endeavour as part of their version of success. Like I said, it varied greatly.

Perhaps my favourite reply was from an older gentleman, a psychiatrist, who said success is having a healthy relationship with yourself. It wasn’t an answer I expected but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me. Without a healthy relationship with ourselves we’re unlikely to flourish in our career, socially or even in our health.

So how do we nurture a healthy relationship with ourselves? Here are a few ideas…

• Journaling: Lots of different ideas about how to go about this but basically taking the time on a regular basis to jot down thoughts, feelings and dreams that you’ve noticed throughout the day can help stimulate insights. Here’s a great place to start.

• Meditating: This just keeps coming up, doesn’t it!? I still think Headspace and 10% Happier are great daily options that also offer a community of support – they’re very popular for good reason.

• Get a coach: A coach could be a family member, close friend or literally a coach – someone whom you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings with and who’ll have your best interests at heart. Explore questions like:

  • Why do I think or feel this about that?

  • Where else does that feeling come up for me?

  • What assumptions have I made about this, them or me? Why?

Approached with curiosity and kindness, digging into how, what and why we think the way we do – what we think is normal – can be fun, interesting and revealing about who we are. (Here’s a little read for some other ways to nurture a relationship with yourself.)

Have a successful week, everyone!!

Luke x

"To be absolutely certain about something, one must know everything or nothing about it.”— Henry Kissinger