How to Create a Life That Aligns with Your Values
As a mom, you juggle a million things every day—caring for your kids, nurturing your relationship, managing your home, and possibly running a business or pursuing a career. Amidst all the chaos, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short or not living up to what “success” should look like. But here’s the truth: success isn’t one-size-fits-all. As moms, we need to redefine success on our own terms and create a life that aligns with our values, not the expectations set by society or others.
Let’s dive into how you can let go of traditional ideas of success and create a version of success that feels fulfilling, aligned, and authentic to you.
Why Moms Need to Redefine Success
For many moms, success often gets tangled up in unrealistic societal standards. We’re told that to be successful, we have to “do it all”—raise perfect kids, maintain a flawless home, have a thriving career, and look great doing it. But that version of success often leads to burnout, overwhelm, and feeling like you’re constantly falling short.
When you redefine success to align with your values and your goals, you give yourself the permission to live a life that brings you fulfillment, not stress. This process is about stepping back, reflecting on what truly matters, and designing a life that feels meaningful to you.
Identify What Truly Matters to You
The first step in redefining success is understanding what matters most to you. What are your core values? What makes you feel fulfilled and alive? Is it spending quality time with your kids, making an impact in your business, or prioritizing self-care?
Take some time to reflect on what lights you up, and then use that as a foundation for defining success.
Ask yourself:
- What do I value most in life?
- How do I want to feel at the end of each day?
- What brings me the most joy and fulfillment?
Your answers to these questions will help you shape your new definition of success—one that is unique to you and aligned with your values. Spend honest time reflecting and journaling on these questions so you can step into your next level.
Let Go of Society’s Expectations
One of the biggest barriers to creating a life that aligns with your values is the pressure to live up to societal expectations. We’re bombarded with images of the “perfect” mom or the “ideal” entrepreneur, and it’s easy to feel like you’re not measuring up.
But the truth is, you don’t have to meet anyone else’s expectations. Let go of the idea that you need to be perfect or that success has to look a certain way. Embrace imperfection and understand that your version of success can—and should—look different from anyone else’s.
Action step: Write down one expectation you feel pressured by (whether it’s from society, family, or social media), and let go of it. You do this by replacing it with an intention that feels aligned with your own values. And anytime that pressure creeps up, take a deep breath, remember your new intention around it, and let it go again (and again!).
Define Success on Your Own Terms
Once you’ve identified your values and released the pressure of societal expectations, it’s time to redefine success in a way that feels true to you.
Maybe success for you is having quality time with your family each day while still pursuing your career goals. Maybe it’s setting boundaries that protect your time and energy. Or maybe it’s about feeling at peace and present, even when life gets chaotic.
Whatever success looks like for you, it’s important to define it in a way that reflects your values and goals, not what others expect.
Action step: Take a moment to write down what success means to you in your current season of life. Keep it simple and focused on what truly matters. Also know that it will likely change and evolve as you do. This is about you becoming a more true version of yourself, and you have to get to know her again.
Align Your Goals with Your New Definition of Success
Now that you’ve redefined success, the next step is to align your goals with this new vision. Too often, we set goals based on what we think we “should” achieve, rather than what actually matters to us. Instead, create goals that reflect your unique version of success.
For example, if success for you means having more time with your kids, set goals around creating a flexible work schedule or outsourcing tasks. If success means growing your business while maintaining your mental health, set boundaries around work hours and prioritize self-care.
Action step: Review your current goals and ask yourself if they align with your values and your definition of success. If not, adjust them to better reflect what’s important to you.
Embrace Harmony and Imperfection
Redefining success isn’t about creating a perfect life or finding the elusive work-life balance. It’s about embracing imperfection and finding harmony between your personal life, your family, and your business or career.
Understand that success will look different on different days, and that’s okay. Some days, success might mean being fully present with your kids. Other days, it might mean hitting a business milestone. The key is to embrace the ebb and flow of life and allow your definition of success to evolve as you do.
Action step: The next time you feel like you’re not “doing enough,” remind yourself of your new definition of success. Let it be your guide in finding peace and fulfillment, even on the busiest of days.
You Get to Define What Success Looks Like
Success doesn’t have to be defined by society, your peers, or anyone else. As a mom and entrepreneur, you get to choose what success looks like for you in this season of life. By aligning your goals and actions with your values, you’ll create a life that feels fulfilling and meaningful—not just one that checks off boxes.
Remember, success is personal. It’s about living in a way that feels right for you and your family, not living up to someone else’s standards. When you redefine success on your own terms, you’ll feel more confident, more aligned, and more at peace with the life you’re creating.
Want to start creating a life that aligns with your values? Get the Find Your Spark Workbook and reconnect with yourself as you create goals that help you feel lit up!