Many people think immediately of prosperity, fame, and riches when they hear the word “success.” Others think it is the achievement of a certain goal that makes an individual successful. The fact of the matter is that the word “success” has a variety of different connotations, which depend on your personal point of view.  However, most people will agree that if a person is truly successful, he or she should also be genuinely happy and feel a certain sense of accomplishment.

Philosophers and great thinkers have pointed out that achieving success doesn’t just mean acquiring lots of money or possessions.  Once you become successful, it is important to make sure your frame of mind and your actions also reflect those of a successful person.  Here are some guidelines on how to stay in a place of success:

Guideline 1: Find Balance

It is not uncommon that an individual lands his or her dream job, but does not feel happiness to match. Some of the people at the “top” are also the loneliest and saddest people you are likely to come across.  People in “power positions” often die early from a heart attacks or other stress related diseases.

Truly successful people have a balance in their lives.  This means they have balance in the workplace, in their relationships, in their health and spirituality. Achieving success is an ongoing process and involves continually adapting and improving one’s frame of mind.

Most successful people don’t view their success solely through the lens of how much money they have in the bank. Truly successful people judge their success by overall quality of life.  Success is not just qualified by material possessions.  The lives of these people who have achieved true success also include quality relationships, leisure time, health, fitness and relaxation.

Take some time right now to remember what kinds of activities relax you and allow you to truly unwind. Make sure you dedicate at least a few hours per week to take advantage of these activities.  If you find yourself forgetting to take time for yourself, set a time in your calendar each week that you promise yourself to take off.  Remember, you aren’t “flaking out” or dodging work during your relaxation time, you are actually adding to your optimal success.

Guideline 2:  Stay Positive

The most successful people are the ones who are able to discover the benefits in every situation they encounter.  Even when circumstances and events are less than ideal, they have the presence of mind to turn the situation around. Truly successful people are always seeking the potential good that can be extracted from any circumstance.  In contrast, people who have negative and defeatist attitudes will find it extremely difficult to come out on top in the end.

Have you ever heard of how common it is for a person to quickly make money and then lose the money just as quickly?  There have been countless stories about people who win the lottery, but then lose the money shortly thereafter. In these sad cases, the person’s mindset isn’t adjusted to being rich.    When you don’t believe in yourself, your talents and potential, you can have money in your bank account, but you will not have a wealthy mindset.  If a person isn’t feeling happiness within, money can be very transient.

Even after you have achieved success, there will always be stress and stumbling blocks.  When a stressful situation arises, remember to always ask yourself, “What possible good can come from this circumstance?”  

If you cannot think of anything positive during a bad situation, just keep trying to come up with anything… even if it seems silly or absurd.  In fact, if you come up with something silly or absurd, that is fine. Hopefully, at least you can get a good laugh! The point is to refocus your negative thoughts and start retraining your mind to look for the good in all situations.

Guideline 3: Stay Loyal to Your Ideals

To stay in a place of success, it is important to figure out what areas are fundamentally most important to you and keep those areas firmly in mind. You always want to be drawing on your skills and gifts to move ahead in a variety of directions.   Be sure to stay loyal to your personal goals and ideals. 

One way to stay loyal to your ideals is to pick a few charities or causes that are most important to you. If you take time throughout your career to volunteer or donate money to these causes, it can truly replenish your soul.

Most people who are truly successful are also dedicated to a cause they believe in.  If you do not feel as though your work is fulfilling to you, it is easy to eventually lose your passion and focus.  As Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”