Hello everyone and welcome to my twenty-eighth blog.

The Oxford English dictionary has one of the meanings of success, as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The second is the attainment of fame, wealth, and social status. I prefer the first.

Success means very different things to different people. My aim and purpose are very unlikely to be exactly the same as yours. Granted, we may have similarities and a number of these, but our personal aspirations will probably be dissimilar. The late Zig Ziglar, suggests that success cannot be defined in one sentence, but is comprised of many things and that the definition depends on the individual; and that one size does not fit all. This is so similar to our eating habits as I have mentioned in my previous blogs. I absolutely love the fact that we are all different and after all, variety is most definitely the spice of life.

I have been thinking about over the past few days that the way in which we all have mostly coped with, and managed this surreal, difficult and trying time that has descended upon us over the past few months, has been pretty awesome. My feeling is that we have actually for the most part been hugely successful in our response and adaptability to the enormous changes that have taken place in all our lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have responded to this with resilience and grit. To me, this can definitely be called success.

Below are some light-hearted examples of how successful I believe we have been:

• The majority of us are still on talking terms with our partners and kids, I think.
• Most ladies and some gents have managed without our pedicure, manicure, facial, and hairdresser, well maybe not all of these.
• We seem to have mastered the video calls, zoom, house party in order to keep in contact with friends and family, most of us.
• The unavailability of the cappuccinos, lattés, frappuccino’s have been quite hard, but we are still relatively okay.
• We exercise outdoors now without a gym and that has become quite social, with distancing, apparently.
• Shopping online has been very successful, at least according to my family, strangely enough not me.
• Those cupboards have never been tidier, and the garden shed is pristine.
• We are all now master chefs and superb bakers, due to a huge amount of time spent in our kitchens.

How can we not say that we have been successful? We have rocked this whole business and I am certain we will continue to do so!! Let us take a moment to pat ourselves on the back!!

On a more serious note after some reading and thinking,  I found a number of definitions of what it means to be successful that I can relate to and hope that you do too.

 

If you would really like to be successful in any and every way that your heart and soul desire, you…

1. Do not give up.

Keep going even when there are obstacles, mountains, or other people trying to block your way. It is going to be difficult, it will take long and sometimes you will feel as though you are getting nowhere. Watch and learn from others who have refused to give up. This will help strengthen your own reserve to keep going.

 

2. Learn something new each day.

Listen to podcasts, watch Ted Talks, or enrol for an online course.  Be curious about the endless possibilities your future holds. Curiosity inspires you to see all situations as opportunities for you to grow.

3. Believe you can

This self-belief does not come naturally to everyone. Try these four steps.  Believe it is possible no matter what, visualize it, act as if you have already achieved your success, and take actions towards your goals. Don’t mock this – try it and see what happens! Who knows you may end up with a booming physio and nutrition practice! Well almost!

4. Always do your best.

Doing your best in everything that you do but bear in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. As you continue to do this, your best will even get better.

5. Set concrete goals.

Why do you want success? Be realistic and honest when setting your goals, so that you can achieve them. Write them down and refer to them often. Tweak them as you need to.

6. Read, read, and read.

Successful people are vociferous readers. Reading also lowers stress levels, may help you sleep better, and may improve your memory. A thirst for knowledge is something that can and should never be quenched and ought to be a lifelong quest.

7. Have a place to call home.

Home does not need to be a specific structure. It can be a country, a city, or even a person. If you have this, a place where you feel comfortable and safe, you are already achieving success.

8. Balance work with passion.

Awesome if your job or work is both, but if not, you can have your passion in hobbies or interests as well as your job.

9. Learn that you sometimes have to say no.

This does not mean that you are selfish and unkind, it just means that you have priorities and know what you need to give your attention to at any given time.

10. Laugh

Laughter releases endorphins which are our brain’s feel-good hormone, and this helps us let go of negative energy and stress. People who laugh often are so much happier and more productive. I use this all the time.

11. Help others to succeed

Generally, you will only succeed if you help others succeed. Learning to give as well as take is a part of creating a world that we want to live in, and flourish in. This will also make you feel so good.

12. Conquer the fear that is preventing you from going for gold

Be who you are, accept the inevitable discomfort that comes with uncertainty, enjoy the challenge, don’t overthink, and revel in the journey.

13. Meditate

This can make you feel happier on a daily basis and is a simple, effective, and convenient way to tap into that motivated and positive mind that will help you to succeed.

14. Exercise

The importance of the connection between a healthy brain and body is vital to be successful. You will benefit from the exercise schedules and goals, you will remain competitive with yourself and this will help build your self-esteem.

15. Lose the negative and pessimistic folk

Do not let negative people determine how you think, feel, and behave. Find your tribe of like-minded folk and connect with them

16. Love and be loved back

This is my best and has really been what has helped me on my journey of personal success, and what continues to help me, as I aspire to achieve.

17. Have the courage of your convictions

You may have opinions that others do not agree with, but if you believe that they come from an informed platform, continue to strive for those great heights and hold onto your beliefs and ideologies.

18. Celebrate small victories

Any time a goal is reached, or an obstacle overcome, celebrate. This will make you feel happy, motivate you to keep going, and will build up your confidence. I just love the excuse for any form of celebration!

19. Understand that you can shape your destiny

You can not necessarily control what life throws your way, but you can choose to control your attitude and how you respond to it.

 

I hope that you can learn something useful from one or a few of these. Wishing you all the success in the world as you reach for the stars and realize your dreams!!!

With thanks to Andrew Thomas and Missy Yost for some interesting lessons.

 

Tip number twenty-seven

Cherish and treasure the time that you have with your family. Tell them that you love them, repeatedly, and if you are able to, hug them strongly and deeply.