In this post, we are going to discuss 21 success principles to live by to achieve success in your life.
Are you stressed out and busy? Do you wish you had more time to do the important things?
Are you ready to do something better, something special in your life or career? If you’re ready to take charge of your life, you need to learn some success principles.
Many people, maybe even you, stopped following their passion and purpose way too early in life because their talents were ignored, downplayed, or shamed.
They didn’t have what it took to win American Idol or an Olympic gold medal, so they stopped using the talents they were born with.
You don’t have to win awards to have a great life.
To live the life of your dreams, you need to find your superpowers and feel alive and happy when you use them. It’s about being proud of what makes you different and finding people who share your views to help you.
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What does success mean to you?
People have different ideas about what this vague term means. Some people think that to be successful, you have to make a lot of money. To others, it might mean getting over a fear. Still, for some people, it just means being happy in life.
But the rules for how to be successful in life are the same no matter how you define true success.
One thing that everyone agrees on is that “success” means reaching a goal of some kind. At first glance, this seems easy. But do you ever wonder how people you think are very successful got there?
I remember when I was in graduate school, I looked up to people who were much older than me and made a big difference in our field.
People whose names were known in both the classroom and the field.
But I wondered what steps they took to get from where I was sitting to where they were, and how I could do the same.
Sure, these people became successful through hard work, networking, and maybe a little bit of luck. But what are some rules or principles that people don’t think about as often about how to be successful in life?
What are some not-so-obvious rules to follow in order to reach this elusive goal of success?
There are many ways to define the word “success,” but the rules for how to be successful in life are the same no matter how you choose to define it.
Here are 21 success principles that will help you reach your goals and live a full, happy life on your own terms.
21 Success Principles To Live By
1. Be kind to your inner critic
The main reason you don’t leave your comfort zone and live the life of your dreams is because of KCRP or K-CRAP, the radio station that plays in your head all the time.
When you try to do something interesting with your life, it knocks you down with songs like “Who do you think you are?” which is at the top of the charts. “You’ll never be good enough!”
Have you ever noticed that the mean-spirited DJ on KCRP sounds like your parents, teachers, bosses, and other people in positions of power who try to stop you from being creative?
People like this no longer have to hold you back (though they often still do), because your inner critic does it for them. This keeps you in the same place.
To get away from this DJ, try to think of him as a mean old grandfather who tells you nonsense to keep you safe. Remember that this cranky old man is so far behind the times.
Give him a pat on the back for his good intentions, and then turn your attention back to what makes you happy.
2. Pick up a hobby to get closer to your goals.
Even if you never become a famous dancer or writer, that doesn’t mean you should stop dancing or writing. Even if you “only” do these things as your favorite things to do, they make you feel alive.
One of the most important things you can do to move closer to your dreams is to get involved in a hobby.
When you try something creative for the first time or after a long time, you start to see work and life opportunities you hadn’t seen before. A new study from New Zealand says that you also feel happier and more energized.
Some of my most tiring executive clients re-energize their careers by finding something creative to do after work that gave them energy.
Researchers at San Francisco State University have found that having a hobby helps you feel less stressed and do better at work.
Give yourself permission to try new things and get back into things you used to love but stopped doing a long time ago. Setting aside just one hour a week to learn more about yourself can make a big difference in your life and help you stay focused on your goals.
3. Accept yourself for who you are
Many of us don’t follow our dreams because we’re afraid that if we do, people will think we’re weird. But our little differences often turn out to be our best qualities.
Most likely, you lost sight of your true interests and skills before you were old enough to realize you were going in the wrong direction. Slowly, you “grew up” by Taking on family roles that don’t fit with who you really are.
If you don’t want to risk getting bad grades for being original, just repeat what your teachers taught you.
Hide parts of yourself that certain social groups might not like.
If you try to fit in, you might end up living a life that doesn’t really work for you.
When you accept what makes you different from other people and let yourself stand out, even if it feels weird, you can see what your true calling is. Often, the things you see as flaws are your best traits.
4. Experiment
Start making small changes to things that have always been the same for you.
If you start by changing yourself and making good habits, then everything else in your life can start to change. Often, the thing you need to change about yourself is your point of view.
And it’s important to remember that there can be a small but important difference between success and failure.
Your path to success could be blocked by a few small mistakes you make every day.
You might say to yourself, “I took the elevator instead of the stairs again today, and it hasn’t hurt me yet, so it’s fine.”
But this way of thinking and this mistake in judgment will lead to chronic diseases in the long run. In the end, these small mistakes will cost you.
Now, let’s look at someone who tried small changes that led to career success, like a top salesperson at a company or a highly sought-after real estate agent.
Some of these people may have made small changes to their routines, like sending personal thank-you notes to their clients or checking in with them a few months later to make sure they are still happy.
Small choices like these can add up to make a big difference.
For this kind of career success, the only thing you need is discipline, which is important for moving up.
You are the only one who can make changes in your life. You just have to make an effort to do things that will add up and help you in the long run.
And the truth is that you have to work every day for years before you can call yourself successful.
You won’t find your ultimate success in an online ad for a three-day conference or a new supplement with a “proprietary blend” that promises to melt away fat.
Everyone would do well if these things worked.
Success doesn’t happen at a single magical moment when everything falls into place.
It’s more about the smaller, sometimes seemingly unimportant things that happen in between.
When you’re happy and taking in your surroundings because you’re grateful for your life, that’s when you’re most alive.
And the truth is that these things can happen even if you are in a job or situation that is far from your long-term goal.
If you don’t take these small steps toward success, you won’t know if you really want what you’re going after or if you just think you do.
5. Seek Out Mentors
Looking for mentors can be one of the best success principles to follow because it helps to save a lot of time and energy. It’s kind of a shortcut.
You might think you can learn everything you need to know from books, but the truth is that most authors don’t share everything they’ve learned or gone through in the books they write.
Instead, getting to know someone can help you feel better about yourself and give you peace of mind.
Find people who you think are already “successful,” whatever that means to you.
If you think that being successful means finding love for life, find out what the happiest couples who have been together for decades do to stay happy.
Find successful business owners whose businesses have grown from where they started.
Having a mentor or a person to look up to will help you reach the level of greatness you want.
When you learn from what other people have done, you can learn from both what they did wrong and what they did right.
Many people who are successful in the eyes of the rest of the world got their start with a mentor. In fact, one study found that 80% of CEOs say they had a mentor before they became successful.
But don’t think that having a mentor is the same as having a boss. A mentor is not there to do the work for you or give you so much feedback that they are doing it for you.
In the end, they give you useful and helpful feedback so you can help yourself.
The most important part of your success is that you’re making it in your own way.
If you let your mentor decide for you, you give up the freedom to make your own journey.
Even though you want to hear about the mistakes of someone who has been in your shoes, you won’t learn as much from them as you will from your own.
You want to take full responsibility for your wins and losses, so get ideas from your mentors and think about what they say, but remember that your life and decisions are yours to make.
6. Be Optimistic
That’s a good one. Being optimistic and putting a smile on your face no matter what happens is the best success principles to live by.
Don’t let the bad energy that comes your way every day control you.
You will see a lot of selfishness, anger, hatred, arrogance, and other bad things.
But negativity only leads to more negativity, and if you live with a bad attitude, you will attract whiners, complainers, and people who give up easily.
Choose to be optimistic by showing thanks, being patient, being humble, and being kind.
You can’t be happy and positive all the time, but when you have a choice between one attitude and another, choose to look on the bright side as much as you can.
You can choose to have a positive attitude, and the more you feed that positivity, the more naturally optimistic you will become.
7. Take a Break
There is a difference between taking a break and avoiding work.
Burnout is easy to get if you don’t give yourself the breaks you need to keep your mind fresh.
Learn how to tell when your mind is getting tired and give yourself time to rest and recover.
You can give your mind and body a break by putting breaks on your calendar, just like you do with meetings. Make sure to take these breaks and treat them like appointments.
During these breaks, you can do anything you want as long as it takes your mind off your goal.
This can be anything from taking a short walk in the middle of the day to going on a week-long vacation.
As long as you don’t spend every moment you’re awake thinking only about the success you want.
8. Surround yourself with wonderful things
You may have heard that you are like the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
If you hang out with successful people, you’ll become successful yourself. People can’t be successful on their own; they need help, partners, and inspiration from other people.
The key to choosing the people you spend the most time with is to pick people who are better than you in many ways.
If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re missing out on a chance to push yourself and get better.
As you move through the different steps of your path to success, your five most important people may come and go.
For example, the people you spend the most time with when you first come up with your idea for success are likely to change as their roles change and you meet new people.
You are the sum of the five people you hang out with the most. So, if you want to be successful, hang out with people who are successful and do great things.
Your lifelong friends will always be there for you, but if you want to be successful, you just need to spend your time wisely.
Make it a point to spend time with people you know who can teach you, inspire you, or help you get better.
Or, if you have people in your life who don’t share your values, are negative, self-centered, or hurt your chances of success in some way, cut them out with grace.
9. Give it your all.
Even if you’ve planned everything, a trip can still take turns you didn’t expect. Edwards says that being totally committed is a key part of getting where you want to go, even if you hit some bumps along the way.
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and host of The Kurre and Klapow Show, says, “Celebrate the wins, but know that they are not the endpoint. You can pick yourself up after a loss, knowing that it’s not the end of your dreams.” Klapow also recommends going “slow and steady.” The way to your own success is not a race.
10. Set an attainable routine.
People have goals, dreams, and other things they want in life, but they might not get them if they don’t start working toward them. Never wait until tomorrow to do something.
Start today by making a routine that is easy and doable. Edwards says, “Do anything you want and get feedback. “Correct course, try again.”
NorthwesternMedicine.org says that having a daily routine is good for you in many ways. Putting exercise and healthy meals on your schedule will give your body the energy and nutrients it needs for the day.
Getting enough sleep will make you feel refreshed and can have an effect on both your body and your mind. A good routine can lead to a good outcome.
Further Reading: 7 Secrets of a Productive Morning Routine
11. Let your dreams and thoughts help you.
Edwards says, “You are still a kid with big dreams and a strong imagination, so have fun.” What you want to happen in your life is what you can make happen.
Klapow adds, “Life has rules and structure, but imagination doesn’t. By having dreams of success and using our imaginations to the fullest, we can tap into a source of motivation. But don’t spend too much time dreaming and imagining without doing anything about it.
12.Think about growth.
Success is about solving problems and coming up with solutions. This is where growth comes from. Klapow says that as you go through life, things can change.
Things don’t always go as planned, but along the way, you learn and grow. Even if you’re going through a bad time, you may get through it, learn something from it, and become stronger as a result.
“Of course, we all have days when we feel bad, insecure, or just plain lazy,” says Dorell. “In these situations, high-energy, positive music can help, as can moving your body and getting out of your head. Making a vision board to remind yourself of your ultimate goal and how it makes you feel can also be very helpful.”
13.Use positive statements to keep yourself going.
Affirmations are what will keep you going as you go through life. When you say affirmations, you make your own reality.
Klapow says that it helps a lot to tell yourself things like “I’ve got this,” “I can do this,” and “I want this” over and over again.
You’re having a good conversation with yourself, and this good energy may one day come true. Edwards says, “No matter what, always tell yourself, ‘I can.'”
14. Be grateful for everything you already have.
Realize that you have enough, and be thankful for what the future will bring.
Klapow shows how important it is to be thankful. He says, “Being thankful and appreciative for what you have keeps you grounded, lets you find joy in the present, and helps you stay positive.”
The more grateful you are for what you have, the more you will want to grow instead of being afraid you won’t have enough.
Further Reading: 50 Thankful Quotes for Practicing Gratitude All Year Long
15. Set a SMART goal:
Now that you know what you want to do or become, you need to set a goal for it.
Your goal needs to be Specific, Measurable (you need a way to know when you’ve reached it), and Motivational (it needs to get you excited and keep you going), Attainable and Attractive, Realistic (you can’t say, “I want to be a millionaire tonight”), and Timed (State when you hope to achieve it).
Further Reading: 23 Goal Setting Tips and Tricks To Boost Your Productivity
16. Your pain becomes your success
No matter where you look, every great story, every person who inspires you, and every person who has ever done the impossible has had some kind of pain or struggle to deal with.
What makes you successful could be something like a failed relationship, a broken family, a tragedy, or even a new business. At the time, it will seem like nothing is going right, but this pain is what will lead to your success.
If you never feel pain or face a big challenge, your chances of success are low.
The pain will make you question everything you’ve done up to this point and break your pattern.
You don’t have the drive and passion you need. When you see the pain coming, know that success is not far around the corner as long as you get the message of the situation.
17. You are meant for great things (belief)
All of us are destined for great things. But you have to believe this statement before you can use this success principle. Once you know you can be great, all you have to do is keep going.
If you think you’ll be average, you will be, but if you think you’ll be great at something, you will be great at it.
No one has to stay average, but we all have to start doing something right away. We need to do something to move toward a goal.
In my own life, I believe that my work can inspire other people, and I will always think this way. Even if someone says I’m stupid or boring, I know that what I think is what will shape my future.
Even at the lowest point when I think no one is listening, I am proven wrong. Even if they don’t tell you or like your Facebook post, people are watching you at their best.
18.Stay in the moment
Society tells us that successful people always plan ahead for the future, so this might seem like a strange thing to say. Society tells us that we need to think about our mistakes in order to learn from them, which isn’t a bad idea.
But the world we live in now makes it easy to get into bad habits. People who are successful and happy do think about the past and the future.
They do this to learn from their mistakes and get ready for the future. But at the same time, they know that you live your life in the present.
And no matter how much you plan for the future, you can’t know and control everything that will happen.
So, the first thing that successful and happy people have in common is that they know how powerful the present is and choose to live in it.
If you worry too much about the future or dwell on mistakes from the past, you can’t be happy in the present and enjoy life.
19. Love Yourself
People who are successful and happy love who they are.
They show themselves kindness by taking good care of their bodies and minds and spending time trying to figure out what’s going on inside them.
Getting to know your good and bad traits, your triggers, and how you see the world makes it easier to understand how you act.
The first step to success and happiness is to love yourself. Loving yourself lets you make mistakes, fail, and not do well without putting pressure on yourself to change. Love yourself, accept who you are, and try to see the world from your point of view.
If you love yourself, you will always pump yourself up with courage, motivation, and determination. A writer from a service that makes custom essays says that this will help you make your dreams come true.
20. Embrace Failure
In stories about happy, successful people, failures are rarely important parts of the story. People only talk and share things about how they did succeed and offer advice on this topic. But not many people talk about failure and what it means.
Even though society, people, the media, ads, and other things teach you that failure is something to avoid, this is not true. No one likes to fail, of course. But this is because people don’t really know how powerful it is.
When you fail, you learn the truth about what you did and how you did it. You come to learn important things about what you do.
You come here to get better at what you do and keep working on getting better and doing well. Failures teach you how to succeed, so one of your rules should be to accept them.
Further Reading: How to embrace failure
21. You don’t have to jump off a cliff.
Here’s the deal: most people are too afraid to make changes.
When people come to my workshops for the first time, they tell me they have to feed their families and pay their bills, and they’re afraid that if they follow their dreams, someone will get hurt.
“Jump and the net will appear” is not a comfort to them. Because they don’t want to jump into the unknown, they think the only thing they can do is stay where they are. Can you relate?
You don’t have to give up the life you already have to start over. Before I switched to music full-time, I taught psychology during the day and sang at night for many years.
Take a little time each week to do something that makes you happy, like a hobby, volunteer work, or something else. This will help you use this rule to your advantage. Learn what it’s like. Is this really what you want?
If that’s what you really want to be doing, spend more time on it and make the switch when you feel ready.
How important success is
A lot of people are obsessed with success and what it takes to get there. If we don’t do well in life, we might find ourselves looking back at all the things we could have done but didn’t and feeling very sad about it.
How we grow as people and how successful we depend on what we think our bigger purpose is and how that will affect us and other people. So, what’s the point of being successful?
Success makes us feel more sure of ourselves and safe. It gives us a better sense of well-being and lets us make a bigger difference. It helps us understand hope and how to be a leader.
If we don’t reach our goals, dreams, and passions, they might not last.
The Value of Positive Thinking for Success
When learning how to become successful in life, we also have to consider the benefits of positive thinking. Positive thinking has been shown to lower the number of people who are depressed, upset, or in pain.
It makes us feel better both mentally and physically. We need to continue to strive for success in our lives.
Dispel negative emotions, and don’t become frustrated when you don’t experience overnight success.
Richard Branson has said, “I know I’m lucky to have a great life, and most people would think that my business success and the money that comes with it have made me happy. But they haven’t done that; in fact, the opposite is true. I’m successful, rich, and well-known because I’m happy.”
We can be happier, healthier, and more successful if we keep a positive attitude.
Whether you want to be financially successful, have high career goals, or just be a happy person, you should try to think positively and feel positive.
Thank you for reading this post. It was about 21 success principles you must live by to achieve success in your life.
