A version of this article originally appeared on Forbes.com and was graciously provided by Paula Black. Paula Black is one of the world’s leading business and professional development coaches for lawyers, entrepreneurs & service providers, award-winning author & speaker.
Happiness is a mindset. It comes from within you, not from your outside circumstances. You don’t have to have a “perfect” life to be happy. The really great news is that you don’t have to be young or old or wealthy or successful in order to be happy. Instead, you can develop a mindset of happiness.
As a coach that works with many high-performing professionals who deal with massive amounts of pressure and stress every single day, I’ve seen firsthand that happiness really is a mindset. And today I’m going to share four tips to help you develop a mindset that leads to happiness.
1. Define your own success — and be specific about it.
First things first: You get to define success for yourself. You get to decide what happiness looks like. Your vision of happiness may be very different from what your parents wanted for you, what your colleagues are chasing, or even what you wanted when you were younger.
Success may look like building a large firm and working with A-list clients. Or it may mean joining a smaller practice that gives you the flexibility to pick your kids up from school every day.
Get rid of the expectations other people have for you. Take time to define your own vision of success. Paint a specific picture in your mind — so real you can taste it! This gives you a “North Star” to pursue. And it keeps you focused on what you really want for your life.
2. Create a road map and take the first steps right away.
You don’t have to arrive at your destination in order to be happy, but it’s much easier to be happy when you’re on the road to your destination. If you’re feeling stuck and miserable in your business and your life, it can be very hard to find happiness. As soon as you make a plan and start taking steps toward your new vision, you’ll find that it’s much easier to be happy and enjoy the journey. The key? You need to be in motion, making progress, not sitting still.
3. Focus on the destination, not the obstacles.
You’re going to have roadblocks in your business and in your life. You’re probably going to fall flat on your face a time or two — trust me, I know what this feels like!
It’s okay to fall down. But you have to get back up. You have to get back on your journey. And the easiest way to do that is to stay focused on your goals. The vision for a thriving business and a life that you love will keep you moving forward as long as you stay focused.
4. Surround yourself with inspiration.
Your surroundings have a strong influence on your state of mind—the people that you speak to, the places that you visit, and even the meals that you enjoy. I love to travel, and I’m so inspired by the places that I see and the people that I meet. Travel keeps me inspired and happy, and many of my clients feel the same way.
What does inspiration look like for you? Surround yourself with inspiration on a daily basis and you’ll see that it’s much easier to find happiness every day.
Happiness is a mindset. It’s attainable for you, too, even when circumstances are tough. Create your own vision for success, make a plan, stay focused on your destination, and surround yourself with inspiration along the way!
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