Image via Giphy

I wish someone had suggested to me that I might, in fact, be undermining both my health AND my finances as I disregarded my mental health. When we’re constantly in striving mode, at worst, we burn out and have a shortened career, and at best, we become less creative and more robotic. Both potentially lead to less lifetime income.

(I witnessed this firsthand while working with a group of anesthesiologists. When I suggested they focus on lifetime income rather than annual income, it was a game changer in terms of the quality and quantity of hospital assignments they’d fulfill.)

So, how do we create success in 2025 without the usual stress? I haven’t been an expert at this, for sure :-) But I have had enough suffering to be motivated to discover a new path forward.

First, let’s look at our beliefs about what leads to success:

1. Recall a past success at work. What actually led to that success? Was it over-striving or was it great self-care, a creative idea, or something else? Most success in the arenas of science, business, and sports comes from an “Aha” moment, being in the present moment, taking a risk to connect with someone who can help you, etc. It doesn’t usually come from working incessantly without looking up at the vast sky.

2. With this understanding, form a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic intention for your career or business this year.

3. Next, identify your inputs. Your inputs are the daily or weekly actions, within your control, that you or others in your field know lead to the intention you set.

4. Finally, shift your focus from outcomes to these inputs. Trust that by consistently executing the right inputs – ones you've thoughtfully chosen as the ingredients for success – positive outcomes will naturally follow. This approach reduces anxiety because you’re staying focused on what’s in your control. Less anxiety is a booster for peak performance.

Then, to help increase your probability of having more Aha moments (where you see a much better way of adding value to your organization or your clients), try this practice that I teach at my quarterly Reset Retreats:

a. To begin, experience the challenge of generating great ideas when you're stressed: While counting backwards from 5785 by 16, ask: what’s a great idea for increasing my impact at work? 🥴

b. Then, sit down with a cup of tea, look at the vast sky with a soft gaze, and gently ask the same question: what’s the best thing I could do to increase my impact at work or with my clients?

This exercise gives you a visceral understanding of how a relaxed mind can unlock your fullest potential. Many of us have internalized the belief that success demands constant strain and struggle. By unclenching your mind and body, you create space for innovation and insight to flow naturally. This isn't necessarily about working less – it's about working from a place of ease and flow, allowing your best ideas to emerge organically rather than trying to force them through sheer will.

Here’s a line from Tajitsu, a Japanese nun from the 1800’s:

….And she opened the clenched fist in her mind
and let go, and fell, into the midst of everything.

This is the foundation of my vision for 2025: prioritizing well-being not just as a path to personal peace in the midst of turbulent times, but as a catalyst for professional breakthroughs. Looking back at my career's defining moments, the biggest opportunities weren't born from exhaustion and struggle – they emerged when I was present enough to recognize them and relaxed enough to seize them. By releasing our tight grip on specific outcomes, we create space for inspiration.

Even if this approach doesn't immediately translate to financial gains (though I believe it will), consider this: wouldn't a year of achieving your goals while feeling genuinely at ease be revolutionary in itself?

Ready to explore what's possible when you combine ambition with inner peace? Join me for an immersive one-night retreat, April 30 - May 1, where we'll dive deeper into these principles and develop your personal roadmap for a successful, stress-free 2025.