We are reaching the end of the calendar year. In my work life as a solopreneur, this is the season to tally up totals, assess the gains and losses, and envision goals for the year ahead. As I consider this, I find myself drawn to ponder the very real differences between success and thriving.
American culture is all about success. How much money did you make? How many followers do you have? In my editing world, it might be about how many books you sell or what big name you were able to get to write a testimonial for the front cover of your book.
While the amount of money I make does matter—to pay the bills and afford a few frills—I find myself contrasting the cultural importance of success with a growing internal need to focus on thriving instead.
What do I mean by thriving? For me, it’s about operating by a different set of rules and expectations. Rather than having the best, the most, the biggest, it’s about being the truest. It’s about presence, not performance.
When I thrive, I am peaceful and calm. When I thrive, I look for the good in others and can find it in myself. When I thrive, I have enough, because life flows naturally and opportunities arise to share my gifts and blessings with others—naturally.
Thriving allows me to focus clearly on work, and clients respond with words like “fantastic” and “phenomenal,” which are both words I got in response to my editorial feedback last week.
Thriving allows me to be fully present to the Holy Spirit and to the people I meet with in spiritual guidance sessions.
What does it mean for you to thrive? In what ways have you thrived this year? What intention might you make to support your thriving in the year ahead?
