Success doesn’t have to be draining. (Yes, it’s possible to rise through the ranks while maintaining your peace of mind.)
Many of us might be familiar with the concept of “daily gratitudes” or “gratitude journaling,” where we jot down a few things we appreciate each day or small victories we've experienced. These could range from a recent promotion to simply enjoying a hot shower or preparing a nutritious meal. Acknowledging these accomplishments fuels our motivation to continue pursuing joyful success.
But how do we maintain the successes we desire throughout our lives? What does a sustainable success model look like? The term “success” can carry heavy connotations. The journey often appears unhealthy, especially when we observe those at the peak of their professions who seem to have sacrificed so much to get there. They might hold the titles we covet, yet lead lives that don’t resonate with our own aspirations. You can probably think of several individuals who appear to have it all, yet are utterly burned out or discontent with their jobs despite high salaries.
Fortunately, we can forge a path to success that nourishes rather than depletes us. This idea aligns with the message in Brad Stulberg’s latest book, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds—Not Crushes—Your Soul. Brad, a human performance expert and author of acclaimed works like Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox, provides valuable insights.
Listen as Brad shares key lessons from his book. One standout takeaway is that we don’t need to push ourselves to the brink to achieve greatness. So, why do so many people wrestle with overexerting themselves and facing burnout? Brad explains this phenomenon and outlines what a “sustainable model for success” truly entails.
He emphasizes the importance of valuing presence over mere productivity and reassures us that being grounded doesn’t negate ambition. Additionally, he discusses embracing vulnerability in today’s appearance-focused, social media-driven world.
We also confront burnout and explore effective strategies for managing it, both daily and more broadly.
Furthermore, we discuss how to incorporate the principles from Brad’s book into our careers and investing. In our professional lives, we may need to make advancement choices that feel less than grounded. This could mean accepting a job that isn’t fulfilling simply for financial stability, or taking a promotion that complicates a friendship.
When it comes to investing, how do we achieve success in a way that feels right and doesn’t cause stress? Brad shares his best tips.
In our Mailbag segment, we address inquiries about saving excessively and how to handle your vehicle when moving overseas. In Thrive, we discuss whether a new job offer is worth the switch or if you should continue negotiating for better terms.
Discover more about Brad at his website.
