Originally published on BlogSivanaSpirit.com By Matt Caron
Find your own path
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
Life isn’t about following others; you have to find what works for you.
That means discovering your passions, and what you consider to be your life purpose.
Without this, you may feel lost.
Though friends and family mean well, taking time to yourself is extremely important so that you can understand what in your life you need to change or shift to be in alignment with what you need.
SEE ALSO: 10 Interesting Facts About Buddha (Infographic)
Become undaunted
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
Your life purpose or passion may seem like a dead-end or nearly impossible, but it’s part of who you are.
Without that mindset, you can make it down the road of life and have a lot of regrets.
Success isn’t dependent on money or recognition; it’s dependent on the happiness and fulfillment that flows from what you’re doing!
Honor your truth.
Take small steps toward your goal
“A jug fills drop by drop.”
An insurmountable task or objective isn’t as overwhelming when take small steps everyday.
Write down small goals for each month of the year, and what you need to do make it happen.
Then go do it.
Work hard
“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”
One thing is for sure: success does not come from sitting on the couch and doing nothing.
Once you set your mind to being successful, be prepared to work feverishly hard at what you want.
You will need to make sacrifices…but they’re worth it when you’re following your goals and dreams.
Think positively
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
Watch your thoughts; think of them as actual things rather than imaginary constructs.
This helps you to understand how powerful they can really be.
Coming down on yourself only hinders you and holds you back.
Thoughts are powerful creations that shape our lives.
CHECK IT OUT: The Great Compassion Bracelet
Embrace your failures
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
Take a step back and really look at your successes and failures.
Wouldn’t you say that your failures informed you how to be successful?
That’s true of all endeavors.
Keep on working, and move on to the next step.
It’s all just part of the process.
Don’t compare yourself to others
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
By comparing yourself to others, you put yourself in a negative state of being.
This makes you more nervous and less assure of yourself.
The happier and focused you are, the more likely you’ll be to succeed.
Get the right friends
“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”
Environment is stronger than will.
If you want to be successful in whatever you’re doing, embrace those that lift you up and encourage you in your goals.
Negativity weighs you down.
Live a balanced life
“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”
Being successful isn’t just about working all the time; you need to play and find your spiritual practice too!
Being a balanced is the key to not losing fatigue or wearing out, which in turn increases your chances of success.
It’s about the journey
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
Ultimately, the joy of success comes from what you’re doing.
Recognizing this can save you lots of heartache.
The best perspective to have on the path to success is to be present to what you’re doing and enjoy it.
This gives you freedom and a sense of fulfillment…and that’s true success.
Matt is the Senior Editor of the Sivana blog, and an enthusiastic Yoga teacher and life voyager. He strives to inspire conscious living and conscious dialogue; not only for others, but for himself. He’s the founder of TheYogaBlog.com. You can find him on Facebook.