Success Looks Different for Everyone

                                                                      

We live in a world where success is often measured by visible milestones—titles, income, awards, luxury, and fame. But the truth is, success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It wears many faces, speaks many languages, and whispers in ways that only the heart can interpret. What feels like success to one person might be unremarkable to another, and that’s perfectly okay. Because, at its core, success is deeply personal.

Redefining What Success Means

From a young age, many of us were told what success should look like. Graduate with honors. Get a high-paying job. Buy a home. Start a family. Retire comfortably. But life rarely moves in such straight, predictable lines. Some of us bloom late. Others start over—twice, three times, or more. Some people find joy in the spotlight, while others prefer the quiet of a life lived away from public scrutiny.

Success is not a destination. It’s a journey that shifts and evolves with each season of your life. Sometimes, success is waking up without anxiety. Other times, it’s walking away from a toxic relationship. For someone else, it might be finally finishing a degree, opening a small business, or learning to love themselves after years of self-doubt.

I have come to terms with my many successes.

A Personal Story: My Quiet Definition of Success

There was a time in my life when I constantly questioned my value. I compared myself to others—friends  traveling the world, or hitting massive financial goals. Meanwhile, I was nurturing dreams that didn’t look as glamourous from the outside. I was teaching, creating a safe space for children, and building something called The Early Years, a vision rooted in love, learning, and community.

It didn’t come with awards or viral recognition. There were long nights, financial setbacks, and moments where I wondered, “Is this enough?” But then I’d receive a message from a parent saying, “You changed my child’s life,” or a teacher who said, “Your seminar inspired me to keep going.” A grandmother who said, "Your radio show has inspired me to be a better grandparent." A mother "Where was this show when my son was younger." All these feedbacks help to define my success.

One day, after a long week of tutoring and preparing for a workshop, I sat alone my sipping tea. It was quiet. Peaceful. And it hit me—I was content. I was doing meaningful work. I had built something from the ground up, something that was making a real difference. That was my success. It didn’t need validation from the world—it was enough that I knew it in my soul.

The Danger of Comparison

One of the biggest thieves of joy is comparison. Social media, in particular, has magnified the pressure to “keep up.” But success isn’t always Insta-worthy. Some of the most impactful moments happen off-camera—in therapy sessions, in doctor’s offices, in private conversations, in classrooms, in silence.

Someone else’s chapter 20 is not your chapter 1. The woman running a thriving business may have once been where you are now. The man who seems to have it all may be silently battling something you don’t see. We all walk different paths, carry different burdens, and move at different speeds.

Instead of comparing, try honouring. Honour where you are. Honour your efforts, even when they go unnoticed. Honour your progress, even if it feels small. You are growing in ways you can’t always measure.

Excited about all my successes so far and the ones yet to achieve.

Different Versions of Success

Let’s celebrate the many forms success can take:

Emotional Success: Healing from trauma, learning boundaries, embracing self-worth.

Spiritual Success: Finding peace, reconnecting with faith, living with purpose.

Financial Success: Paying off debt, creating generational wealth, budgeting wisely.

Professional Success: Getting a promotion, switching careers, building a brand.

Personal Success: Taking care of your mental health, learning a new skill, traveling solo.

Relational Success: Nurturing meaningful relationships, leaving harmful ones, raising kind children.

What matters is that it matters to you.

Questions to Ask Yourself

To define success on your own terms, try asking:

1. What does a successful day look like for me?

2. What do I value most in this season of life?

3. What achievements am I proud of that no one clapped for?

4. What kind of life feels rich, fulfilling, and aligned with my spirit?

These questions help you reconnect with your inner compass rather than chasing someone else’s idea of “making it.”

Letting Go of Guilt

Sometimes, we feel guilty for wanting a different kind of success. Maybe you left a high-paying job to prioritize your health. Maybe you’re single at 40 and loving it. Maybe you chose motherhood over climbing the corporate ladder—or vice versa. There’s no wrong path, only the one that feels right for you.

You are not required to justify your dreams to anyone. If something fills your soul, brings you joy, and helps you grow—it is enough.

Success Can Be Small and Still Be Significant

We need to normalize small wins. You got out of bed even when it was hard. You asked for help. You said no when you used to say yes. You honored your boundaries. You smiled today. These may seem insignificant, but they are huge markers of growth, courage, and transformation.

Don't wait for applause to recognize your success. Learn to cheer for yourself.

Embracing Each Other’s Journey

One of the most powerful things we can do as women is support each other’s definitions of success. Let’s celebrate the woman launching her dream business and the woman who’s quietly recovering from burnout. Let’s uplift the woman who’s learning to love herself after heartbreak and the one who’s redefining motherhood on her own terms.

Let’s stop measuring success with the same ruler and instead applaud the courage it takes to define it for ourselves.

                                                                           

Final Thoughts: Your Success, Your Story

You are allowed to want more, and you are allowed to feel grateful for what you already have. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to grow at your own pace. You are allowed to rewrite your story as many times as needed.

Success is not a competition. It’s a personal symphony. Some days it sounds like a quiet hum, other days a roaring chorus. But if you listen closely, you’ll hear it—your success, singing in your own unique rhythm.

So today, define success for you. Not based on likes, expectations, or comparisons. But based on the life you're building, the woman you're becoming, and the peace you're finding along the way.

You’re doing better than you think.