**A personal share on redefining success.**

Going back home to the Bay Area always brings up a lot of emotion for me. Grieving past versions of self and celebrating the beauty of growth and change that’s followed.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

This past year, I saw the quote, “Inner peace is the new success,” and I reflected on how much my definition has changed since leaving the United States to travel.

Years back, I equated success to excelling in my career and climbing that corporate/tech ladder to reach career stability, $$$, and ‘success’. All of the “shoulds” characterized my decisions, I “should” be going after that next promotion, I “should” be at this place in my career by now, I “should” have it all mapped out, etc⁣.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣It took leaving, traveling, meeting people with drastically different outlooks and priorities, and challenging career experiences to force me to come to my definition. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Success is waking up every morning and working towards something far bigger than myself. It’s staying true to my values and approaching every situation with genuine curiosity. Success is the inner peace that comes with being, doing, speaking and living in harmony with my authenticity. It is constant learning, growth, and expansion. That is success for me.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣So I grieve the old versions, including perfectionist, career-driven Kristin..unfulfilled and burnt out from going after something she didn’t even want. And I celebrate the new..calm, peaceful, and balanced Kristin. She’s striving for something far beyond herself and hoping to create meaningful change in this world. She feels the fulfillment and inner peace and follows it.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣So I encourage you to shed the layers of outside noise and reflect within.

• What is success to you?
• How does that look and feel to you?
• How are your actions, goals and aspirations aligning with your version?

Follow that. Celebrate the peace that comes when you align with your version. 🤍⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Remember, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 definition is the most important definition of all.