If you've accomplished these 12 things, you're more successful than you give yourself credit for

These signs show a far more successful life than you think you’ve had.

A middle-aged woman with short blonde hair and glasses is sitting outdoors in a park, wearing a white shirt. She looks thoughtfully into the distance, with blurred trees and grass in the background.

Success can be measured in a number of different ways: it’s not all about how much money you have in the bank, or what kind of car you drive. The things that follow often signal far more personal success than anything you could ever buy, but they also fly under the radar when most people think about their lives.

1. You have close friends who care about and respect you.

Three elderly friends sit together at a table in a bright room, playing a card game. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying each other's company. A bicycle is visible in the background near a couch and window.

If you have good people in your life who love you, respect you deeply, and are there for you when you need them, that tells you that you’ve become a sincerely good person. Like attracts like, and if you love and respect those close to you, you know that you’ve earned them.

2. You can look in the mirror and see a person with integrity.

A woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail is seen from behind, looking at herself in a large mirror. She wears a white tank top and gazes at her reflection with a thoughtful expression. The background features a white wall and a decorative element.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, and can occasionally be detrimental to personal advancement, but it’s a mark of immense integrity. If you can look in the mirror and not turn away with shame or disgust, but instead be proud of the person you see there, that’s a massive sign of success.

3. You have created more happiness and joy than sorrow or pain.

Two women sit at a table outdoors, smiling and engaging in conversation. One woman holds a smartphone, and the table is adorned with coffee cups, a cake, and other items. The background includes greenery and soft sunlight, creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

If you look back at the ripples your actions have caused, and you know for sure that you’ve left more happiness and peace in your wake than trauma, that’s another sign of success. Some of the best people in history are those who have left a positive, indelible mark on the world around them.

4. There are people in your life who sincerely trust you.

Accruing a ton of wealth or status means very little if nobody in your life can trust you at all. In contrast, it’s an honor if you have friends who trust you implicitly, and who would put their life (or the lives of their loved ones) in your hands without hesitation.

5. You’re comfortable with who you are as an individual.

A young woman with curly brown hair and rosy cheeks is looking slightly upwards and smiling softly. She is wearing a blue top, and her expression conveys a sense of contentment or contemplation. The background is a neutral, light color, slightly blurred.

Some people spend their entire lives uncomfortable in their own skins: unhappy with their partnership, their career choice, or even their sexuality, appearance, or gender. In contrast, it’s a huge mark of success if you’re living authentically, proud and comfortable with who you are—inside and out.

6. You’ve found pursuits that you truly love.

Two women painting at easels in an art studio. The woman in the foreground, wearing a checkered shirt, focuses intently on her canvas, brush in hand, and palette in the other. The woman in the background, in a sleeveless shirt, works on her painting.

The things we do in our downtime are often the most fulfilling. Some people go their whole lives without finding vocations or hobbies that truly engage or fulfill them. In contrast, the happiest and most successful people are those who spend a fair amount of time doing what they love.

7. A younger version of yourself would look up to you.

A young girl with long hair looks up at a woman sitting beside her on a sofa, holding a piece of grid paper. The woman appears to be speaking, and both are in a cozy, warmly lit room with a potted plant and a lamp in the background.

If you met your eight-year-old self, and they would be terribly impressed with how you turned out, that’s a massive sign of success. You don’t need to be an astronaut or star athlete: ending generational trauma cycles and having sincere gratitude for daily blessings are huge personal successes as well.

8. You’ve had enough to eat today.

A person in a yellow cardigan sitting at a wooden table with a plate of food. The plate contains a serving of white rice and a colorful stir-fry dish with vegetables and shrimp. The person is holding a fork and a spoon, ready to eat.

Food security affects more people than you realize. In fact, hundreds of millions of people go hungry every day. If you’ve eaten enough, especially if that food was healthy and nourishing, you should be grateful, and you should see it as a sign that you’re doing well.

9. You’ve left your pain in the past.

Young woman wearing dark scarf and coat, standing outdoors on a beach during sunset. The sky is painted in soft pastel colors with water and coastline in the background. She looks serene and thoughtful.

Those who hurt you, put you down, or otherwise damaged you may have contributed to aspects of your development, but they’re now mere footnotes in your personal story. You’ve walked away from damaging or poisonous relationships, learned from your experiences, transcended your hurt, and moved on to healthier pastures.

10. You’ve done your best.

A smiling woman with wavy hair sits with her hands clasped under her chin in front of a teal wall and white shelving. She wears a white shirt and appears to be in a kitchen or dining area, with purple flowers and green foliage in the foreground.

Success doesn’t necessarily entail winning a gold medal or attaining a particular goal: the journey matters far more than the destination. You can consider yourself successful if you’ve given all you had and did the best you possibly could, even if things didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped.

11. There are those who will always remember you because of something kind or compassionate that you did for them.

A teacher leans over to assist a young boy with his work in a classroom. Other students are working at their desks. The setting is bright, with colorful classroom decorations and a world map on the wall.

Most of us remember at least one person who had a marked impact on our existence. If you’ve done something to change another person’s life for the better, then you’ve done the equivalent of nurturing (or even saving) an entire universe. If that isn’t success, then what is?

12. You have made your little corner of the world a bit better than how you found it.

A pair of hands carefully handling small green seedlings over a pot filled with soil. The person appears to be gardening, preparing young plants for transplanting. The background shows a muddy surface, indicating outdoor gardening activity.

Is the shoreline near you noticeably devoid of garbage? Or scattered with indigenous flower seeds to feed native pollinators? Whether you’ve helped establish a community garden, nurtured local bees, or helped local people in need, you’ve made a difference in the world around you, and that’s a beautiful legacy to leave.