If you’ve achieved any of these 7 things, you’re more successful than 98% of people

When people talk about success, they often picture flashy cars, multimillion-dollar homes, and a calendar full of first-class travel. But what if real success was something deeper—something far more meaningful than just wealth and status?

In my journey as an entrepreneur, psychology graduate, and someone who’s failed more times than I can count, I’ve learned that the most successful people rarely look the way Instagram would have you believe.

True success is quieter. It’s intentional. And often, it’s hidden in the small decisions we make every day.

Here are 7 signs you’ve achieved a level of success that puts you in the top 2%—even if no one’s clapping for you yet.

1. You know exactly what you value—and you live by it

Most people spend their entire lives reacting to external expectations. Their careers are chosen for prestige. Their relationships are shaped by fear of being alone. Their time is filled with obligations they never questioned.

If you’ve taken the time to define your own values—and actually live in alignment with them—you’ve already outpaced most of the world.

Living by your values creates inner harmony. You’re no longer dragged around by every new opportunity or pressured into saying “yes” when you mean “no.”

This kind of success isn’t loud. But it’s powerful. And it builds a life that actually feels like your own.

2. You’ve learned how to be okay with being misunderstood

People will always project their fears onto you when you take an unconventional path. Maybe you quit your job to start something risky. Maybe you moved to a different country, changed religions, or decided to be childfree.

And maybe some people didn’t like it.

But you didn’t back down.

If you can hold your ground when others question your choices—not from defiance, but from clarity—that’s an incredibly rare trait.

Most people bend themselves into knots trying to be liked. If you’ve learned that not everyone needs to understand you, you’ve found a kind of emotional freedom most people never will.

3. You’ve built a life that works for you, not for social media

This one’s big.

If you’ve stopped living for the highlight reel—if your home, your friendships, your daily routines are designed for joy and peace instead of online admiration—you’re winning at life in a way that doesn’t need likes to be validated.

Maybe you live in a small, humble space because you value freedom over square footage. Maybe your days are structured around family time, deep work, or quiet walks—rather than status-chasing.

That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.

As Naval Ravikant once said, “The ultimate goal in life is not money or fame, it’s freedom.”

If you’ve prioritized that, you’re far ahead of the curve.

4. You’ve healed from at least one major emotional wound

Let’s be honest: no one gets out of childhood (or adulthood) unscathed. We all carry emotional baggage—some heavier than others.

What separates the truly successful people is this:

They do the inner work.

If you’ve had the courage to go into the dark places—to confront trauma, addiction, betrayal, or the quiet ache of unworthiness—and start healing… that’s extraordinary.

It’s one thing to make money or achieve career milestones. It’s another to turn inward, to face yourself, and to come out the other side stronger, kinder, and more whole.

That’s a success few people ever reach.

5. You’ve mastered the art of consistent discipline (even when no one’s watching)

Anyone can go to the gym when they feel inspired. Anyone can write when motivation hits. Anyone can meditate for a week or two.

But real success lies in what you do when no one’s watching—when there are no external rewards, no applause, and no short-term payoff.

If you’ve learned how to stay consistent—whether that means sticking to a fitness routine, writing daily, practicing patience with your partner, or saving money every month—you’ve cultivated something most people never do:

Self-trust.

Discipline is freedom in disguise. And if you’ve built even one habit that has endured over time, you’re operating on a level most people only talk about.

6. You no longer measure your worth by comparison

It’s one of the deepest traps of modern life: comparison.

We compare our bodies, incomes, vacations, homes, relationships, and even how “productive” we are in our self-care.

But comparison is a thief. It either fills you with false pride—or leaves you feeling perpetually behind.

If you’ve reached a place where you can genuinely celebrate others without questioning your own worth—or where you can see someone else’s success and not immediately measure yourself against it—you’ve broken free from one of the most toxic patterns of our time.

That kind of internal success doesn’t trend on social media. But it radiates peace in every area of life.

7. You’ve defined success on your own terms—and it’s not what the world told you

Maybe you were told success meant six figures, a house by 30, a picture-perfect family, and two holidays a year.

But you looked closer. You realized that someone else’s blueprint didn’t fit your soul.

So you created your own.

Maybe for you, success is working 4 hours a day so you can spend more time with your kids. Maybe it’s living quietly in nature. Maybe it’s dedicating your life to service, or art, or travel, or truth.

Whatever it is, you chose it.

You questioned the script. You rewrote it. And that alone puts you in the top 2%.

Conclusion: You’re already further ahead than you think

Success doesn’t always feel like fireworks and champagne.

Sometimes it looks like holding your boundaries.

Sometimes it’s healing quietly in therapy, or starting over in a new country, or journaling at 6am before your kids wake up.

Sometimes success means finally feeling comfortable in your own skin—even if your bank account isn’t where you want it to be yet.

If you’ve done even one of the seven things above, you’ve already achieved more than most people ever will.

You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re living on your own terms.

And if you’re ready to take the next step in your journey—to release old baggage, redefine success, and step fully into who you’re meant to be—check out my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How to Live with Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego. It’s the guide I wish I had years ago.

Because the real secret?
Success isn’t about doing more.
It’s about becoming more of who you truly are.