A Psychological View of Success
Written by: Callista Gandha
Since time immemorial, psychologists have always been curious about what makes successful people different from the rest of us. When thinking of success, you most likely picture someone wealthy, influential, and highly accomplished. However, there might be more to success than what first appears, according to recent research. Researchers have discovered a statistical correlation between a few specific personality traits and success in different spheres of life.
Even though success can be defined in many different ways, it is having the feeling of accomplishment that gives us a sense of satisfaction. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child or a garden patch; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is success.”
A lot of things contribute to success, such as preparation, opportunity, mindset, attitude, and value. Thus, it sheds light on the psychological traits of highly successful people. The first thing is to have a growth mindset to develop. Successful people have a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities and skills can be developed with effort and commitment. They take on obstacles, view failure as an opportunity for growth, and maintain a positive attitude. As a result of their unwavering perseverance and upbeat outlook, they eventually achieved success.
In addition, successful people have high levels of self-awareness, which is the capacity to recognize and understand one's own feelings, strengths, flaws, and values. By becoming more self-aware, they are able to successfully regulate their thoughts and behaviors and make more informed decisions. When you want to achieve something, you will set a goal and work your hardest to achieve it. Therefore, goal setting and visualization are very important psychological traits for achieving success.
Greatly successful people understand the importance of visualizing achievement and having specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. They lay out intelligent objectives that provide guidance and purpose. Furthermore, people create vivid mental images of accomplishing their goals, which increases focus and motivation.
The importance of having a growth mindset is very important. It takes a lot to build up the skills and knowledge to pursue something, but our attitude towards that specific goal is just as important. Goals are nothing without action.
References:
Davis, T. (2006). The Definition of Success: What’s Your Personal Definition? The Berkeley Well-Being Institute. https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/definition-of-success.html
Kim, A. (2016). Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford.edu. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wilhelm-wundt/
Karls, E. (2022, May 3). 7 Character Traits Shared By Super Successful People. Dreams and Stories. https://medium.com/this-shall-be-our-story/7-character-traits-shared-by-super-successful-people-ddb600b28459