Understanding Your Personal Formula for Balance & Success

The definition of success — how and where you want to see it manifest in your life — is highly personal. We’re often influenced by other people’s definition or perception of success, but we’re much more likely to reach our goals if we think about them in the context of our own balanced formula. 

For some, success might mean a more balanced home and professional life; for others, it might be a balance between traveling and not traveling. Dimensions and formulas for even scales of success are personal and change over time, making the new year a great time to check in and reset. So, how do you determine your formula this year? 

Narrow Your Goals

First, narrow down what success and balance look like to you. Defining these things is powerful, and it usually requires you to give up one thing for another. To help you determine your goals for balanced success, determine your values, consider your strengths, and think about the role of identity. Personal success will likely fall at the intersection of these things.

Ask yourself a few questions — What is important to you? What makes you feel energized and excited? What drives you? What qualities do you admire in yourself and others? Do your choices reflect your core values? Consider what you perceive to be your strengths. If you’re unsure, ask the relevant people in your life. Do you notice any trends? There is very likely some truth to those patterns. Use all of this information to inform your goals.

Make a Sacrifice Assessment

Once you determine your goals, the next question is, how much are you willing to give up to achieve them? True balance requires you to define what you will and won’t take on, what you are and aren’t willing to face. Be introspective. How much can you handle right now? Are you willing to give up certain things? Use a fine filter to determine the answers to these questions. 

Here are examples of things you may have to sacrifice to reach your goals: 

 

The things you have to let go of won’t necessarily be negative, but the less you’re willing or able to give up, the longer it will take to achieve your goal. If you can’t give a lot, you will likely have to break down your goals into more manageable chunks and work at a slower pace. At a certain point, if you’re unable/unwilling to sacrifice anything, you may not be able to reach the goal without making more significant shifts.  

Success is a Personal Formula

How do your vision for success and balance interact? Trust your gut — If success feels like more free time to explore creative outlets, then lean into that. Integrate your personal vision into your new year's vision, thinking about goals in the context of your own formula and sacrifice assessment. Check one last time before you commit — What cost are you willing to incur? Does that go back to your vision of success?