Success can be defined as many things… becoming famous, rich, having a thriving business that virtually runs itself, coming up with an idea that impacts many lives, writing or directing a blockbuster film, or simply being happy.

Success as defined typically is just not that important to me. Why, you ask? What kind of loser doesn’t want to be successful? Me. I’m that loser.If all you’re striving for is money, you’ll compromise character and values to get it. If all you are after is a successful business, you’ll step all over people to achieve it. If all you want is fame, you’ll give up your dignity to acquire it. Success without purpose holds little value in a life well-lived.As much as I’ve worked on my writing in the last 11 years, I should have a book on the New York Times best-seller list.

However, this is not my definition of success; having to do things I wouldn’t be happy doing to get there, making promises I cannot deliver on, selling something to people who don’t necessarily need the message that inspires me. I’m just not into selling something people don’t need for a price they can’t afford to achieve a goal that would seem dwarfed by the time I actually accomplish it. I’m more about living and sharing my purpose and passion and connecting with those that can equally benefit from my life story and experiences.

I could make a lot more money than I make now, if I capitalized on all the people I network with and pressured them into buying my work. But I don’t think buying a lot of things is necessarily a good thing, so I’d feel hypocritical having that mindset as my central focus.

I’ve read things on how to be successful and rarely will any of them really show you how to get where you want to go. They offer ideas but no real mapping out of the steps necessary to find the joy I have in doing what I love — now, at the present moment.

If the pursuit for success is for the benefit of fame or fortune or fulfillment, and I am unable to get there, I would blame my inadequacies and experience an overwhelming sense of failure, the polar opposite of what I was hoping to achieve. This results in a life out of balance with fulfillment nowhere in sight.

Regardless of how you define success, it’s something you’re looking for … something that exists in the future. It’s based on your desire to achieve something, your feelings that you’re not where you want to be. It is really a climate conducive to experiencing a strong sense of discontentment.

Beware of the snare of striving for this future “success” … it’s never-ending. You strive for more, and then when you get it, you strive for more again. You’re never satisfied. Arriving at enough success can never be achieved if the pursuit is future tense. Striving is a condition that doesn’t have an end, unless you give it up.

I’ve had a sense of success from the day I began doing what I love and each day that I can make a positive difference in the lives of those God brings across my path for His purposes. Success isn’t about achieving something in the future, but about doing something right now that you love.

So rather than seeking to achieve “success”, allow joy, passion, love, and simply being content in the moment to be the thing that drives you. This is a successful and lasting fulfillment that you can achieve without buying into every method that someone tries to convince you will “be the one” to get you there. Find what brings you joy, and just do it!

True success will always be accompanied by joy!

Sheri Geyer is a Professional Life & Financial Coach, Mentor, Writer, Wife & Mom