The only thing we ever want to be, the only thing we ever strive for is success. To be that seasoned writer, that successful player, that teacher, a mathematician and the list goes on! But ever wondered what happens after that? Imagine achieving all that you ever strived for! What next? We are sure that this thought must have sent chills through your spine. It is well said that success is scarier than failure because what after we achieve it? All the people who have achieved their milestones agree with the fact that maintaining success is tougher than striving for it. Why? Because all our life, we keep refreshing our goals to reach that mark. We have a huge source of knowledge to tell us how to reach there and cope with failure. But what happens when we reach that mark? We don’t speak much about what happens after success! Little do we speak about how to deal with it.
We consider success as the ultimate goal but what after it? Imagine being that great author, a successful player, or a popular actor. What next? Next is dealing with success! To manage it and make sure that it does not get to your head for obvious reasons. It is telling yourself not to stop after the “I made it” moment.
Most successful people accept feeling lost and directionless after achieving their goal because they always considered it to be the ultimate thing. They are flooded with doubtful thoughts because the real battle starts when one reaches the pinnacle. If this was not enough, one also has to live up to the expectations of people who have seen one succeed.
As the author of Eat Pray and Love Elizabeth Gilbert beautifully puts that success, catapults you just far into the equally blinding glare of fame, recognition and praise. This clearly portrays that dealing and managing success is altogether another battle. But this does not mean that you have to worry as we have come up with a few ways of how you can manage successfully.
1. Remember your true purpose:
Every successful story has a purpose. There are certain driving forces that enable one to reach his or her goals. But there is one misinterpretation that one’s purpose is to be reminded only until one succeeds. There is a need to understand that purpose is the lighthouse to one’s rocking sea, we call life. It isn’t just to be reminded when the sea is troubled but also when it is tranquil. After achieving one’s goal, when you feel lost, remind yourself of the purpose, the reason why you are where you want. Then you shall always be guided in the right direction. You shall never get lost.
2. Be humble:
You reach your destination after years of hard work and finally pursue your dream. With the adrenaline to conquer, you motivate yourself to reach the pinnacle of success. While some remain grounded, some lose humility to their success. As it is said, they let their success reach their head. After attaining success he or she thinks that they are special, they forget the people who have helped them succeed. As a result, such individuals always find themselves alone. Thus being humble is of utmost importance when you reach your goal. Give credit, share your knowledge, and remember your roots and you shall always be on the right path.
3. Know that the limelight isn’t forever:
All their life, people keep striving to attain that one ultimate goal. They set themselves on this arduous journey and keep attaining one milestone after another. And when they finally reach this stage, they enjoy the limelight that every successful person deserves. This being the best thing happened to them, it is difficult to let go of that feeling and that moment. When the time comes when the limelight shifts on other individual, the individual happens to sulk. If one makes himself or herself understand that the limelight isn’t forever, they are able to live their best moment to the fullest and are ready to pass it on to some other individual. As a result one does not undergo disappointment.
4. You are your next milestone:
One major and recurrent problem faced by most of the successful people is the lack of goals once they reach their destination. As a result they lose their sense of motivation and feel lost. For people in such a muddle, we say that what you are in search for in the outside world, is already on the inside. Yes! In search of a new goal? Compete with what you have already achieved. Become the better version of yourself each day. This way there shall never be a lack of purpose. You shall always be led by a superior direction.
5. Keep learning:
One issue faced by most of the people who have reached their ultimate goal is that they no longer know what to do next. Another problem with these people is that they restrict themselves from learning new things. The reason being that they feel what’s more to attain? For people in such a dilemma, we say that no matter at which stage of life you are, open yourself for new learning experiences. This will allow you to stay humble and you never know when a learning experience will lead you to a better, unexpected opportunity.
As Coach K says, the secret of enduring success lies not in what we’ve achieved, but in how we can do more. Find ways to tell yourself that success is not where you stop, it is where the true journey starts. It is never about what you did in the past but to build upon it.
