How to achieve both outer and inner success

“Success” can be hard to define because it means different things to different people.

We may see two types of success. The inner and the outer. In counseling or coaching work, we focus on integrating both inner and outer success.

When people are able to master the outer rules, principles and values of the external world, they are more likely to gain external success by external measures like wealth, assets and popularity.

When people are able to master the inner rules, principles and values of their own internal world, they are more likely to gain internal success, inner harmony, and general “happiness”.

Reconciling the two is not easy. Focus too much on one can come at the cost of the other.

Which one do we focus too much on is a good question to ask ourselves from time to time.