How to Succeed in Life

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This article was co-written by Kamila Tan. Kamila Tan is a rehabilitation coach, former Division I athlete, inspirational speaker, and mental health expert. She is the founder of Embracing Strength LLC – a coaching business with a mission to help athletes recover from eating disorders and appearance problems, and to support the families of those athletes. Kamila provides rehabilitation support to athletes with experience as a Division I NCAA volleyball player. Kamila holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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No matter how old you are, where you live, or what your career goals are, perhaps your ultimate goal in life will be to become happy and successful. Success is not just about money and fame, it also means following your passion, living with purpose and enjoying the present moment.

Table of Contents

Build the path to success

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Live with purpose. To achieve your dreams and become the person you’ve always wanted to be, you’ll have to start by paying attention to your actions. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing getting me where I want to be in life?” ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you often feel depressed, daydream about the future or the past, or count the hours and minutes to the end of the day, it’s probably because you’re disconnected from what you’re doing.
Appreciate your time. Spend your free time doing things you love instead of wasting time in vain. For example, instead of just watching TV on the weekends, you will spend time on hobbies or with loved ones and new friends.
Judge your productivity based on dedication instead of achievements. What you do should not necessarily produce results in the traditional way, but everything should make you passionate and happy.
Note, you can absolutely spend a little time sitting idle and just being a “lazy cat”. This really helps your imagination and self-awareness. Create a balance between what you want to do and allowing yourself to “discharge”.

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Define passion. Before you can achieve success, you will have to define success in your own way. While it may take you a few years to figure out what you want to do in life, identifying your passions, interests, and values will help you set goals and feel more meaningful in life. If you have trouble identifying the factors listed above, ask a friend or loved one for help. You can ask yourself the following questions:

What legacy do you want to leave behind?
What do you want others to remember about you?
How would you like to change your community?
What is your favorite area of life? For example, you might think about your favorite subjects and wonder why you like them. ^{[2] X Research Source}
For example, if you like musicals. Ask the question: is it because you like music or because you enjoy working with a large group to accomplish a common goal?

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List your goals and what you will do to achieve them. You need to list short-term and long-term goals. Don’t just limit yourself to financial and career goals; Add emotional goals, personal development goals, things you want to experience or want to learn. Set a timeline for each goal you want to achieve. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Set SMART goals; These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals.
Break down big goals. For example, if your goal is to see the world, you might set a goal to save money and explore several countries.

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Obey commitments. Planning alone is not enough; It is important that you do what you set out to do. If you promise to do something for someone, keep it. Likewise, don’t accept an offer to do something if you’re not sure you can. Be honest with your limitations. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Psychpogical Association Go to Source}

Avoid canceling plans and try not to cancel plans twice with the same person.
Stick to the commitments you’ve made to yourself. Write your commitment down on paper and hang it where you can see it.
Make sure commitments will gradually lead you towards your goals. Review your goals from time to time to make sure you’re on track.

Material success

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Learn. Education gives you the knowledge, skills and beliefs to unleash your full potential. When it comes to financial success alone, statistics show that the higher your education (such as achieving a higher education), the more money you’ll earn. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

In 2011, in the United States, the average weekly income of high school graduates was US$638, while those with a bachelor’s degree were US$1053. In the same year, master’s degree holders earned $1,263, and doctoral degree holders received a salary of $1551.
You are not required to attend formal training. Vocational training and long-term coaching can also help you get a higher income. Having a degree in a certain field also contributes to improving your salary.
Don’t forget to learn for the sake of passion. When you know more about life, you will ask more questions and enjoy learning more.

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Financial management. Learning how to manage money will help you achieve financial security over time, no matter how high or low your income is. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Track spending. Subtract your fixed expenses from your monthly income to determine how much pocket money you can use each month. In addition, you should also monitor your bank statements regularly and note expenses. That way, you’ll avoid overspending and ensure your statements are always correct.
Know your income. When calculating your income, remember to subtract taxes and insurance payments from your total income. Don’t forget about sundries like premium premiums, savings, and loans. The remaining number is the real income that you can hold in your hand.
Spending cuts. If your income is not enough to cover your fixed expenses, reconsider and cut down on unnecessary expenses.
Save money. Every month, you should set aside a small amount to save. You can ask your employer to deposit a paycheck into your savings account.
Invest with caution. If your company has a retirement savings plan, set aside your balance for this investment.

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Time management. Procrastinating important tasks until the last minute can cause you to experience unnecessary stress and make mistakes and omissions easy. Manage your time so that you can get things done efficiently.

Use a timetable to organize your day, week, and month.
Set reminders on your smartphone and use the timer feature on your phone to manage your time more efficiently.
List all the things that you need to do for the day and mark each task completed. Here’s how to stay motivated and organized.

Spiritual success

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Enjoy the present moment. If you often dwell on the past or daydream about the future, you are ignoring the present. Remember that the past and the future are illusions and that real life is what exists in the here and now.

Start paying attention to negative thoughts so you can dispel them and enjoy the present moment. When a negative thought pops into your head, identify and label it, and let it go. ^{[7] X Research Sources} Meditation or regular mindfulness exercises can help you do this naturally.
Get in the habit of paying attention to the little things around you. Appreciate the warmth of the sun on your skin, the feel of your feet on the ground, or the artwork at the restaurant you’re eating at. Noticing these things will help you “turn off” the noise in your head and appreciate each moment.

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Don’t compare your life with others. Unfortunately, many people measure their success by comparing it to the success of those around them. If you want to feel successful and happy, see your life as it is.

Many people have a tendency to compare the downsides of their lives with the highlights in other people’s lives. Remember that no matter how glamorous someone’s life may be, behind closed doors everyone faces suffering, insecurity, and other difficulties. ^{[8] X Research Sources} Therefore, you should pay attention and limit your use of social networks to keep this in mind.
Instead of comparing yourself to someone who is “superior” to you, think of people who are homeless, have a terminal illness, or live in poverty. This is a way to help you appreciate what you have instead of feeling self-conscious about yourself. You can participate in volunteer activities to get a better sense of this. This way, you will feel happier and more confident.

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Grateful for life. No matter how many things you achieve in life, you will still be unhappy if you always focus on what you don’t have. So every day, take time to appreciate what you have. Don’t just think about material things; You should also be grateful to your loved ones and cherish the good memories.

Success in all aspects of life

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Health care . When the body is healthy, the mind is healthy. Choose a balanced diet and make sure you’re not lacking in essential nutrients. Find out what’s causing the problems you’re having, like lack of energy or concentration, and talk to your doctor, nutritionist, and health professional to improve your condition. Do not forget to exercise regularly, but remember to choose the form of exercise according to your preferences.

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Seize the opportunity. If you have a chance to shine, don’t hesitate. If you’re worried that you don’t have the time or energy for a good opportunity, ask yourself: is this going to help me reach my big goal? If the answer is yes, put aside other commitments to pursue this opportunity.

Remember that opportunities only come once. You cannot afford to take a chance.
That doesn’t mean you should run out of savings or ignore your safety; instead, you need to know how to nod to growth opportunities. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Meet positive people. Make friends with people you admire for some reason: they are happy, kind, generous, successful at work, or otherwise successful. Connect with people who have achieved what you want, or who are working towards a common goal. Don’t let envy get in your way: the success of others has no bearing on yours. ^{[10] X Trusted Source PLOS ONE Go to Source}

When making friends with someone, ask yourself whether this person makes you feel positive, confident, and energetic or feel tired, exhausted, or incompetent. You should spend time with positive people instead of people who drain your energy.
If you have friends or loved ones who always make you feel bad about yourself, limit your time with them. In addition, you must know which relationships are preventing you from getting close to your goals, tiring you out, or demanding too much of your time and energy without adequate return.
Find a mentor among people you admire. If you think you can learn from someone, ask for advice.

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Set boundaries with others . Protect your needs. You should be considerate of others, but say no to abusive behavior. Remember that being a good person doesn’t mean you have to tolerate the violent or unkind words or actions of others. ^{[11] X Research Source}

In addition, you should also respect the boundaries that others set for you. Listen when your loved one says they need space or want to do something alone.

Advice

Inspire yourself with what inspires you like music, photography, fashion, ongoing events, etc. Nothing can ignite the fire of passion within you more strongly than inspiration. great inspiration.
Having positive role models in your life will keep you motivated and steer you in the right direction. Your role model doesn’t have to be an acquaintance. Get to know their life story and try to emulate their work ethic.

Warning

Don’t be jealous of other people’s achievements. Instead, you should strive for your own success.

Steps