THE ONE BIG LIE WE'RE TOLD ABOUT SUCCESS•••

Heard this one? Well, don't believe it. There's plenty of evidence
that success doesn't have to be this way.

As I spent time learning about "Mindfulness in the Digital Age" at the
Wisdom 2.0 conference, it became apparent to me that mindfulness is
indeed becoming mainstream. While I wouldn't call its pace break-neck,
more like clipping along, mindful practices like mediation,
compassion, self-awareness, and wellbeing are moving into the business
world.
And here's the cool part--while the mindfulness movement is gaining
some momentum you can get in now and still be considered an early
adopter.
Wisdom 2.0 has a core mission "to not only live connected to one
another through technology, but to do so in ways that are beneficial
to our own well-being, effective in our work, and useful to the
world."
I've been pondering the relationship between success and happiness for
quite some time. My two days at the Wisdom 2.0 conference re-ignited
the questions once again: Can you be an ambitious, successful person
while also being a mindful, happy person? Can you really have both?
I know the idea that success and happiness are mutually exclusive is a
remnant from a bygone era. I also know it just doesn't jive with how
many successful people live their lives and run their companies.
So why is it a notion that some people continue clinging to? Why do we
keep perpetuating the big lie that success can only be achieved at the
expense of a happy life?

Success, Defined

First, let's define success.
Most of us define success solely as achievement--when you meet enough
goals, acquire enough possessions, or assume enough power then you're
successful.
While I agree that achievement is an important part of success, used
alone it is a short-sided response to the question, "What is success?"
Perhaps success is a bit more complex than that.
Arianna Huffingtonis using her Third Metric-movement to urge us to
redefine success "to include well-being, wisdom, wonder, compassion
and giving" in order to "chart a course to a new, more humane, more
sustainable definition of success."
Bravo, Arianna.

Not Mutually Exclusive

No longer do business leaders have to choose between leading a
compassionate, healthy, and happy life and running a successful
company that shares those values.
For the really successful people I know, it's not enough just to meet
goals, acquire power, and have beautiful things--although those can be
wonderful and used for good purposes.
They also want to create a life where they can enjoy and share those
things with others. Successful people also know that how they live
their lives is every bit a legacy as what they leave behind.
What would you consider "success" for you? Writing a bestselling book?
Raising a grateful and happy child? Leading people to achieve great
things and to love their work? Building a world-famous brand? IPO?
Whatever those worthy goals are, might I encourage you to think
broader, not bigger?
Rather than just adding more goals to your already accomplished life,
think about the longevity of your life and how you want to live it.
Are you building a life to enjoy success once you've achieved it?
So, here's the lie: You can't be successful and happy.
And here's the truth as I see it: Success and happiness are
intricately connected, require constant negotiating between the two,
and ultimately feed one another.

BY Shelley Prevost•