Your philosophy in life directs how you work towards your goals. And whatever you wish to achieve in life, your thought processes and philosophy will have a major effect on the outcome.
So let’s take a look to see how adopting a good philosophy on life can help you reach your goals.
the Road to Character
by David Brooks
⏱ 16 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Always act according to your personal integrity
We all have personal integrity. We all have beliefs in how to treat people and what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Just because you are trying to be successful does not mean that this gives you license to cross the line and treat people badly, lie, or forget your moral code.
Stick with your ethics and your beliefs, which will outline who you are and what you do. When people trust your integrity and you act in a way that is consistent with your beliefs, your personal wholeness is far more likely to lead you on the right path to success.
Don’t be scared of failure
You have personal power and this enables you to take action. It can be scary to do so, but if you choose to sit back and do nothing because you are frightened of failure, you will never succeed.
It is important to remember that although not everything will work out according to plan, any action is a learning experience. We don’t always achieve our goals first time, but perseverance and a fearless attitude will make success far more likely.
Don’t fear failure. The fact that you tried is a personal success in itself. Learn from the experience and move on. If you have a philosophy where failure is a learning experience, you will always be able to move on from setbacks.
Develop successful habits and stick to them
A can do attitude is great, but this has to be underpinned by solid behaviour. For example, it probably does not matter to anyone else if you fail to make your bed every morning, enjoy a regular lie in, and always start your day late and finish early.
This is not a successful mindset and it will make a difference in how you feel about yourself. Adding self-discipline to your life is important, so set small targets and stick to them. For example, just getting to your desk at 8 am (or whatever time you choose) will help keep you in control of your day.
All successful people have a regime they follow. So, do likewise; get into the habit and stick to it.
Don’t be afraid to grow and develop as a person
Sometimes getting outside our comfort zone is the best way to grow and develop as a person. It shows you what you can do and it helps you build confidence and broaden your horizons. Challenges are there to be overcome, and it is amazing what we can do, when we put our minds to it.
So, the next time you think, “I could never do that”, why not give it a try anyway? Ask yourself, what is the worst that could happen? When we stretch ourselves, we grow ever stronger and this personal development can only be beneficial for your future.
A philosophy that recognises your shortcomings paves the way for a successful future
We are not born with all the skills we need for success. Sometimes, it may be necessary to ask for help or work on your personal skills. If you struggle with your communication skills for example, why not get some professional help to improve?
Good communication skills are a fantastic and necessary tool for success. You might find that your body language is negative or you are failing to inspire your team. By changing your approach and getting some professional advice, you can learn how to get your message across in a way that inspires people rather than making your audience glaze over.
Always remember to keep a growth mindset
Building on getting help to work on your shortcomings, a growth mindset, where you are open to further career development and training is an important philosophy that will help you achieve success. We never know it all; the only way to improve development is to learn.
People who are successful never stop learning. Whether it is taking a course to keep you up to date with the latest developments in your chosen field or simply taking time to learn something new, this thirst for knowledge is the mark of success. So, always consider your personal development, so that you can grow as an individual.
You can be successful if you choose to be
Many people find the fear of success as terrifying as the fear of failure. This fear is similar to climbing a high structure and then seeing how far you can fall. The answer is to just keep working one step at a time.
Once you have reached some success in your chosen field, it can feel as if you have a lot to lose if things go wrong or you make a mistake. The simple answer is to keep your confidence. You have every right to be as successful as anyone else, so try to ignore any niggling doubts, trust your intuition, and go for it.
If things do go wrong, remember that it is not the end of the world. With the right philosophy, one that doesn’t dwell on the past but looks to the future, you will always be successful in whatever you choose to do.
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