It’s not unusual for a person to think they’re underperforming, not succeeding at something, or doing worse than they actually are. Most of us are more critical of ourselves than we should be. Progress can also sometimes be hard to see unless you’re looking in the right places for it.
How many of these positive signs resonate with you?
1. You’re clear about what you want.
This can be half the battle. You have a huge advantage over the competition if you know what you want. Many people aimlessly float through life without any clear direction or purpose guiding them.
2. You use your time wisely.
When deciding what you’re going to do next, you ask yourself what the best use of your time would be. Then, you do it.
3. You’re consistent in your efforts.
Consistent effort is a great sign that you are on a positive track. Even if you feel like you’re lightyears from your goal, all you need is regular progress. Small, consistent actions add up to big results over time.
4. You stick to your goals.
Consistency requires patience. Working on one goal for a week, getting frustrated because you're not seeing immediate results, then changing your mind and working on something else is a path to nowhere. You're doing better than you think if you can stick with your efforts and remain patient.
5. You learn the lesson that each mistake and failure provides.
If you can learn something from every difficult situation, it won’t take long before you'll be skilled at making a conscious choice to act differently than you did the last time you were in a similar situation. You'll become more confident and resilient in the process, too. Bonus.
6. You’re optimistic.
When you’re optimistic, there’s hope. When you’re hopeful, you’ll take action.
7. You’re not overly worried about the opinions of others.
If you care too much about what others think, you’ll prefer to play it safe, and you won’t do anything significant. Leave the naysayers and their opinions in the dust behind you!
8. You prioritise your health and wellbeing.
This is the biggie. If you recognise and act on making your health and wellbeing your top priority, you are definitely successful and doing better than many.
Our society is easy in many ways and quite challenging in others. A high priority is placed on success, but we all define success in our own way. Comparing our idea of success with someone else's is a great way to diminish our confidence and create doubt.
If you’re clear on what you’re trying to accomplish, spending your time wisely, keeping a growth mindset, and looking after your health, you’re doing quite well. This is true even if the results you are hoping for haven’t revealed themselves yet. Keep going and give yourself a pat on the back in the meantime.