We all want to feel successful, but how that looks is changing. Do happiness and success go hand in hand?

It is commonplace these days for business owners and those looking to climb the corporate ladder to hire a business coach. But this looks a lot different today than even a decade ago. Rather than simply focusing on tactics that can get you more views, sales, likes, or subscribers, coaches these days are sharing a new viewpoint.

Happiness and joy in what you do is at the forefront of modern business coaching. Our priorities are definitely shifting and bringing a different view of success along for the ride. What we used to deem a successful life (good job, family, house, car, vacations, retirement) now looks more like health, fulfillment, and happiness. How you define that happiness is up to you.

The move toward a more holistic way of thinking and living has almost made “success” a bad word. Many business/life coaches steer clients away from using the term because of its vague and negative bottom line implications.

Is money, renown, and lots of cool stuff the equivalent of success? Sounds pretty great, right? But what if you are miserable at your job every single day of your life in exchange for these things? This may not feel successful even if it looks that way on the outside.

For example, would you feel truly successful as a dentist because it makes your father happy, when you’d really like to become a writer? Dentists make pretty good money. You’d likely be able to afford a nice house and live a more than decent lifestyle. You’d also garner the respect that goes along with being a doctor. But you absolutely cannot stand working on people’s teeth and miss the satisfaction you get from writing. Success? Maybe. Feeling successful? Not so much.

As Alain de Botton explains in his TEDTalk on this modern day conundrum, the true feeling of success boils down to one thing. And that one thing can only be determined by you. What is important to you?

Business and life coaching guru Marie Forleo says what you do for work doesn’t equal your worth, it comes from who you are as a human being. Aha! Check out the video for the rest of Marie’s steps on defining your own personal version of success.

So it seems modern day success looks a lot more like happiness and peace of mind. Not only does a higher measure of personal happiness make you feel more successful, it may actually rub off on a larger scale. Corporate happiness, or a more positive work environment, can mean greater business success organization wide.

As author, Paulo Coelho, puts it “What is success? It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace.”

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Living on purpose means you have that extra spring in your step to succeed each and everyday. Even when you have bad days, you’re excited for the next opportunity to dive right in and try again.

I remember when I first decided that I wanted to be a full time writer. It was when I realized I was spending eight hours a day doing something that I didn’t care about. I had posters of far off places on my walls that I used to imagine I was visiting in my mind throughout my day. I finally realized spending my day doing something that wasn’t personally meaningful to me just wouldn’t cut it.  I wanted to ensure I was living on purpose.

That’s when I took the plunge into full time writing. That was six years ago and truth be told, I haven’t looked back since. Are you living on purpose?

5 Signs That You’re Living On Purpose

1. You’re excited to start the day.

If you’re living on purpose, you don’t dread heading to work in the morning. In fact, you thrive in your environment whatever it is. While work is still work, you’re excited to dive in and accomplish the tasks at hand.

2. You’re goal oriented.

When you’re living with purpose, you’re constantly working toward a goal and you don’t quit until you get done what needs to be done that day.

3. You work a little everyday.

If you love what you do, getting a little done here and there on the weekends isn’t any big deal. It’s not that you’re overworked, rather, it’s that there’s no real weekend.

4. You’re not afraid to fail.

Part of living your best life is not being afraid when things don’t work out and being willing to start all over again. If your dream is to start a health foods store, you’re willing to take the plunge, whatever the risk. If you’re saving to travel the world and your car breaks down, you give up cable and start stashing cash once again. Whatever it takes to realize your dream, you’re unafraid.

5. You’ve stopped comparing yourself to others.

What you want in life may not be what your friends from college want. That’s fine. And it’s why comparing yourself to those around you is a waste. Comparison only brings you down and takes precious energy away from living your purpose.

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Image: Intel Free Press

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