Recipe for Success

In my studies of personal development, I've found that success to be quite a relative term. Just what is success? How will I know when I find it? Is success the same for everyone? Of course it's not.

The definition of success is unique to each individual searching for it -- and let's admit it, who's NOT searching for success in one form or another? Amazingly enough though, for as many people who are on the search for success there are really few who find it.

So how do you find success? I believe that first you must determine exactly what success means to you -- and there is really a fairly simple formula for doing so.

While success is unique to everyone, the general components are standard. It is the combination of these components that you must determine on your own. There are basically 7 "ingredients" for success -- the measurement for each ingredient, however, is up to you!

Start with Peace of Mind -- this is the most important. If you aren't experiencing peace of mind you cannot be happy, no matter what else you have accomplished in your life. Each goal you set for yourself must work towards the main purpose -- to attain peace of mind.

Peace of Mind, like success as a whole, is unique to each individual. It is a combination of the things that make up your core values -- the things in life that are most important to you. Your faimly, your spiritual life, your friends, your hobbies, etc.

For you to be at peace with yourself, what things would have to exist in your life and in what combination would they exist?

Determining this is quite easy. Get a blank sheet of paper and write down the one thing that is most important to you. Write down the first thing that comes to mind, don't give yourself time to reflect and change your answer.

Once you have done this, answer this question -- what is it about this particular thing that I enjoy so much? Then, ask yourself this question -- how will I know when I have it?

Your answers do not need to be long -- just simple, straight-from-the-heart answers. Once you have completed this excersise you simply repeat it until you have 6 or 7 things listed. Now, give yourself time to think and reflect. Put them in order of importance -- or priority.

These are essentially YOUR core values. These are things that, once they are attained, will grant you the peace of mind you need for success.