Real-life examples of how I define success for myself (and how you can too)

Everyday examples of how I define success for myself

Let’s start where you actually live: your day-to-day life. Instead of asking, “What is success?” in some abstract way, look for examples of how I define success for myself in small, repeatable moments.

For one person, success might look like:

You wake up without immediately grabbing your phone, stretch, drink water, and sit quietly for five minutes. You still have a busy day ahead, but you’re not starting it in panic mode. You go to bed thinking, I treated my body kindly today. That’s one example of a quiet, health-centered definition of success.

Another person might say: “If I can leave work by 5:30, cook dinner at home three nights a week, and still have the energy to read a chapter of a book, I’m succeeding.” Their success is measured in time and energy, not job titles.

A third person defines success as: “I don’t raise my voice at my kids today. When I feel overwhelmed, I step away, breathe, and come back.” For them, emotional regulation and presence are the best examples of a successful day.

These are tiny, very human examples of how I define success for myself when I stop letting social media or corporate culture write the script.

Big-picture examples of how to define success beyond money

Money matters. Bills exist. But when people are asked at the end of their lives what they value most, they rarely say, “I wish I’d made more quarterly revenue.” They talk about relationships, health, meaning, and contribution.

Research from Harvard’s 80+ year Study of Adult Development found that close relationships are a strong predictor of long-term health and life satisfaction (Harvard Gazette). That gives you a powerful clue: many of the best examples of personal success have nothing to do with your bank account.

Here are some big-picture ways people are redefining success in 2024–2025:

You might define success as:

• Having enough, not the most. You pay your bills, save a bit, and still have time to rest. You’re not in constant hustle mode. Success is “enoughness,” not endless accumulation.
• Protecting your mental health. You say no to a promotion because it would wreck your sleep and skyrocket your anxiety. You choose stability over status. That’s a real example of success.
• Doing work that aligns with your values. Maybe you move from a high-paying but soul-draining job to a slightly lower-paying role in a mission-driven organization. Your income dips, your meaning rises. For you, success is alignment.
• Maintaining strong relationships. You measure success by how safe and seen your loved ones feel around you. If your partner, kids, or friends know they can count on you, you’re winning.
• Contributing to something bigger. Volunteering, mentoring, creating art, or supporting community projects becomes part of how you score your life.

These are examples of how I define success for myself when I look past the usual metrics and ask, “What will matter to me 10 years from now?”

Journaling prompts with real examples of how to define success

If you’re journaling, it helps to see real examples of how these prompts might play out. Use these as springboards, not scripts.

Prompt 1: “If I wasn’t comparing myself to anyone, success would look like…”

Someone might write:

If I wasn’t comparing myself to anyone, success would look like waking up without dread on Monday mornings, having slow coffee with my partner, working 30–35 hours a week, and still having the energy to go for a walk in the evening. I’d have time for my hobbies, not just chores.

This is an example of success defined by emotional state and time freedom.

Prompt 2: “At the end of this year, I’ll feel successful if…”

Another journal entry could say:

At the end of this year, I’ll feel successful if I’ve gone to therapy regularly, paid off one high-interest credit card, and taken a weekend trip with my best friend. I don’t need a promotion this year; I need stability and connection.

Here, examples include mental health, financial progress, and relationships—three very grounded markers.

Prompt 3: “If my body could define success, it would say…”

Someone might write:

Success means you sleep 7 hours most nights, move your body in ways that feel good three times a week, and stop skipping meals when you’re stressed. You don’t have to be the fittest person in the room; you just stop treating me like an afterthought.

This is one of the best examples of redefining success around health instead of appearance. It aligns with guidance from organizations like the NIH, which emphasize regular, moderate movement over perfection.

Prompt 4: “If my 80-year-old self could define success for me right now, they’d say…”

A possible response:

They’d say, “Call your sister back. Take the walk. Save some money, but don’t hoard your life for later. Success is that you loved people well and didn’t abandon yourself to impress strangers.”

This kind of journaling gives you examples of how I define success for myself that are rooted in long-term perspective, not this week’s stress.

Modern 2024–2025 examples of success in work and career

The world of work has shifted dramatically since 2020, and it’s still evolving. Remote and hybrid work, the Great Resignation, and the rise of “quiet quitting” all reflect people rethinking what success at work actually means.

The American Psychological Association notes that chronic work stress is tied to anxiety, burnout, and physical health problems (APA). In response, many people are redefining success at work to protect their well-being.

Here are some current, real-world examples of how I define success for myself in my career:

• You choose a job that lets you work from home three days a week so you can pick up your kids from school. You trade a bit of salary for flexibility. For you, success is presence, not prestige.
• You set a boundary: no checking email after 7 p.m. Your evenings are for family, hobbies, or rest. You may not be the “always-on” star employee, but you’re a healthier human.
• You decide not to chase management roles because you genuinely prefer being a specialist. Success, for you, is mastery and enjoyment of your craft.
• You build a tiny one-person business that earns less than your old corporate job but gives you control over your time. You feel more alive, even if your LinkedIn looks less impressive.

These are all examples of modern career success that reflect 2024–2025 realities: flexible work, mental health awareness, and values-driven choices.

Personal life examples: success in relationships, health, and growth

Success isn’t just about what you do; it’s about how you live and who you’re becoming.

Here are more grounded examples of how I define success for myself in my personal life:

• Relationships: You have two or three close friends you can call at 2 a.m. if everything falls apart. You may not have a huge social circle, but you have depth. That’s a powerful example of relational success.
• Health: You schedule your annual checkup, get your screenings, and actually follow up. You’re not trying to be perfect; you’re trying to be consistent. This lines up with preventive care guidance from places like Mayo Clinic.
• Emotional growth: You catch yourself mid-argument, pause, and say, “I need a minute to calm down.” You repair instead of escalating. Success is your increased self-awareness.
• Learning: You pick one skill—like learning Spanish, improving your writing, or understanding investing—and stick with it for a year. You measure success by progress, not perfection.

These are real examples of success that don’t fit neatly on a resume but dramatically change how your life feels from the inside.

How to create your own definition: turning examples into a personal success map

Seeing many examples of how I define success for myself is helpful, but the real shift happens when you translate them into your own language.

Try this simple three-step journaling process:

1. Collect examples that resonate

Reread the examples above and circle or copy the phrases that give you a little “yes” in your chest. Maybe it’s:

• “Waking up without dread”
• “Having time and energy after work”
• “Being emotionally present with my kids”
• “Doing work that aligns with my values”

You’re building a personal library of examples of what success feels like to you.

2. Sort them into life areas

On a journal page, draw four sections: Work, Relationships, Health, Personal Growth. Drop your favorite phrases or examples into each section.

You might end up with something like:

• Work: “30–35 hours a week,” “no email after 7 p.m.,” “values-aligned work”
• Relationships: “2–3 close friends,” “present with kids,” “repair after conflict”
• Health: “7 hours of sleep,” “move my body three times a week,” “regular checkups”
• Personal Growth: “learn one skill per year,” “go to therapy,” “take one trip with a friend”

3. Turn them into your own success statement

Now, write a paragraph that starts with: “For this season of my life, success means…”

Here’s a real example of what that might look like:

For this season of my life, success means waking up most days without dread, working enough hours to pay my bills and save a little while still having energy after work. It means being emotionally present with my partner and kids, moving my body three times a week, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep most nights. It also means going to therapy, learning one new skill this year, and taking one short trip with a close friend. I’m not chasing perfection; I’m building a life that feels honest, sustainable, and kind.

This statement pulls together many examples of how I define success for myself into one guiding paragraph you can revisit and adjust as your life changes.

FAQ: examples of defining success for yourself

What are some simple examples of how I define success for myself?

Simple, everyday examples of how I define success for myself might include:

• Going to bed on time three nights in a row.
• Saying no to one thing you don’t have capacity for.
• Cooking at home twice this week instead of ordering takeout.
• Calling a friend you’ve been meaning to reconnect with.

These are small, but they add up to a life that feels more intentional.

Can you give an example of success that doesn’t involve money or career?

One powerful example of non-career success is this: “I feel safe enough in my close relationships to be honest about my fears and needs.” Another is: “I’ve built a daily rhythm that supports my mental health—regular sleep, movement, and downtime.” These examples include emotional safety, stability, and self-respect.

How often should I update my personal definition of success?

Think of your definition as a living document. Many people revisit it once or twice a year—around birthdays, New Year’s, or big life changes. As your circumstances shift (new job, kids, health changes), your examples of how I define success for myself will naturally evolve.

What if my definition of success clashes with my family’s or culture’s expectations?

That’s common, and it can feel uncomfortable. Start by getting very clear, in writing, about your own definition. Then, when you’re ready, you can share parts of it with people you trust. You don’t need universal approval to live by your values. You may decide to make gradual changes while building support systems—friends, therapists, communities—who understand your version of success.

When you strip away the noise, success stops being a scoreboard and becomes a feeling: of alignment, of enoughness, of living a life that actually fits you. Use these real, grounded examples of how I define success for myself as raw material. Then write, refine, and rewrite your own definition until it feels like something you can stand behind—even if nobody else claps for it.