Hi there,
A friend of mine, Michael, always thought success meant a corner office and a six-figure salary. Then at just 38, a health scare forced him to pause. Lying in a hospital bed after a heart attack, Michael realized his definition of success had to change. For him, true success became less about promotions and more about being healthy and present for his family.
Identify what truly matters
It's easy to chase goals without ever asking if they're what you really want. Clarifying your values is the first step to redefining success on your own terms. How do you find what truly matters? Try reflecting on moments when you felt happiest or most proud—those experiences often reveal your core values. Maybe you realize creativity, not just a paycheck, drives you. Or you find that helping others gives you more fulfillment than any award. These clues point to what success should look like for you.
Align your goals with your values
Knowing your values is one thing; living by them is another. The key is to align your daily goals with those personal values. If family is a top value, schedule dedicated family time on your calendar just like an important meeting. If health matters, set a goal to take morning jogs or meditate before work. When your actions reflect what you care about, work and life feel more meaningful. You might even notice you're more motivated and less stressed because you’re pursuing what genuinely matters. In fact, research shows that people who live according to their values tend to be happier and experience less burnout.
Now, let's put this into practice. Take a few minutes this week to do the following:
- List your top three values. Think of principles like honesty, creativity, family, learning, or health—whatever drives you at your core.
- Set one goal for each value. Choose a concrete action that reflects each value. For example, if "growth" is a value, a goal might be reading for 20 minutes every day to learn something new.
Are your daily goals reflecting the person you want to be?
If you're ready for more, I invite you to explore the exclusive exercises on personal alignment available on LifeHack All-Access. Our AI Life Coach can guide you further in aligning your life with what truly matters to you.
Leon
Founder & CEO @ LifeHack
