A Spiritual Approach to Success
Everyone wants to achieve personal and professional success, but the pursuit of that success can leave many people stressed out, unfulfilled, and completely lost. I found myself feeling all three a few years ago! It didn’t take long to realize my life felt off course because my focus was off course. It also didn’t’ take long to figure out how to course-correct! I simply returned to spirit-centered living. That meant less attention on specific outcomes such as career status or public approval and more engagement on the timeless, self-evident principles. I have a top-ten list of spiritual principles that always bear good fruit in my life:
1. Love
2. Self-Control
3. Joy
4. Peace
5. Patience
6. Kindness
7. Goodness
8. Gentleness
9. Faithfulness
10. Love (Yep — double it!)
It may seem like I just rattled off a long list of some pretty good qualities we should all possess, but they are so much more than that. They keep my spirit, mind, and body aligned to accomplish the success I say I want. These are the exact methods I use to achieve purpose in life, which, in turn, always brings me true joy and fulfillment. Now there’s this pesky condition called consistency that can throw a wrench into carefully laid plans. As with most healthy, beneficial ideas, we see results when principles evolve into habits. I’m a data junkie, so habit trackers work wonders in my world. Here’s a screenshot of the simple journal I use to develop these life-changing habits followed by daily gratitude.
Admittedly, I’m the type of person who finds box-checking intensely gratifying. But there are two other benefits to journaling in this manner:
1. I clear my mind by letting the day spill out into this journal. It’s a great time to reflect on what my spirit needs to thrive while staying in gratitude.
2. I like to think of these spiritual practices as the good fruit in my life. So, the journal serves as a real-time heat map that lets me know which fruit is flourishing throughout my life and which fruit may need a little TLC.
These days I prioritize the health of my spirit, knowing that success comes from these daily habits. In the past, I didn’t think of using gentleness with my health, but when I applied it consistently, I began to look at my body differently and nurture it with a great diet and regular exercise. I didn’t think about the importance of peace in my career. But when the decision to move in peace became non-negotiable, I spent more of my day using my strengths instead of draining my energy on unfulfilling pursuits. Investing in our spiritual health leads to success in every area of our lives.
