It’s time to bust one of the biggest myths around – that resilience is the golden ticket to your success.
We’re taught that if we just push a little bit harder, grind longer and prove we can handle it, somehow we’ll win at this game of life and business. Spoiler alert: we’ve been sold a furphy.
I’ve experienced firsthand the pressure this creates, and see it all the time with my clients. Some of them are absolutely smashing it. They’re leading teams, growing businesses and ticking off goals like they’re playing corporate bingo. It’s awesome to see.
But behind the scenes, the cracks are starting to form. The exhaustion is real. The joy is missing. And the worst part? They’re telling themselves they need to push even harder.
The hustle linked to ‘resilience’ has the potential to break us. I don’t want to live that way – and I’m sure you don’t, either. So, let’s debunk this myth together and explore what to do instead to build sustainable success.
4 Pillars of Sustainable Success
It’s time to unlearn everything you thought you knew about getting success. This is what I spoke to the incredible Repa Patel about recently, who shared something brilliant: success isn’t about being the rock that takes every hit; it’s actually more about being the river. Where rocks persist pressure until they crack, rivers adapt, carve new paths and move with intention.
I want to share with you the four pillars that have become the framework for my moving from overworked corporate warrior to a business owner who - most of the time – actually loves her life. Don’t get me wrong: occasionally, these pillars aren’t all attainable for me, but I’m working hard to ensure that I’m getting closer every single day to achieving them.
Pillar 1: Purpose
Working hard just for the sake of it is glorified suffering. True success begins with purpose. It’s about engaging in work that lights you up, that energises you. Imagine waking up every day with a sense of excitement for what lies ahead. That’s what true alignment with your purpose feels like. It’s about identifying the ‘why’ behind your work and ensuring that it resonates deeply with your values and passions.
When you work with purpose, you’re driven more by passion than by obligation, which naturally leads to higher levels of motivation and satisfaction. To align with your purpose, consider asking yourself: What activities make me feel most alive? What impact do I want to leave on the world through my work? These reflections can guide you towards identifying or even reorienting your career path to better reflect what truly matters to you.
Pillar 2: Prosperity
Yes, money matters, but let’s refine our understanding of prosperity. It’s not just about accumulating wealth; it’s about the flow of value. It encompasses overall well-being, including a healthy flow of opportunities and resources that contribute to both personal growth and business expansion. It’s about valuing your work appropriately and ensuring you’re compensated not just financially, but also with meaningful experiences and relationships. Embrace the idea that charging what you’re worth is an act of valuing your own contributions. Prosperity is also about creating a supportive ecosystem—surrounding yourself with people and environments that amplify your growth rather than hinder it.
Pillar 3: Pleasure
Pleasure is often underestimated in its importance to success. Incorporating elements of joy and satisfaction into your daily life isn’t just for personal well-being; it actively enhances productivity and creativity. When you actively seek out what brings you joy, whether it’s a hobby, spending time with loved ones or even taking a moment to relax with a good book, you raise your energy levels and capacity for innovative thinking. This pillar is about recognising that work and life are not distinct silos. Integrating enjoyable activities into your daily regimen prevents burnout and replenishes your spirit, leading to better overall performance in the long run.
Pillar 4: Freedom
Freedom is as much about mindset as it is about actual circumstances. It’s the ability to make choices that align with your values and long-term goals, rather than feeling trapped by external pressures or expectations. This pillar encourages you to reclaim ownership of your schedule, your decisions, and ultimately, your life’s direction. True freedom is having the flexibility not only in how you allocate your time but in what you choose to focus on. This might involve saying no to projects or commitments that don’t serve your higher purpose or restructuring your work environment to facilitate creativity and growth. Embrace opportunities to learn, adapt and innovate, all while ensuring you’re guided by what truly matters to you.
Changing the Narrative
It’s time to rewrite the rules. If your goal is to achieve milestone-worthy success without tethering it to constant self-sacrifice, the game has indeed changed. The narrative we choose can liberate us. Be the river, not the rock. Less rigid resilience, more intentional flow.
Here’s what I know now: success doesn’t have to be equated with sacrifice. I encourage you to reflect. Where in your life are you still stubbornly being the ‘rock’? Where can you allow yourself to be more like the ‘river’? As you reflect on this, consider what small changes you might make today that your future self will thank you for.
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