Lessons learned from an idiotic bet

Life isn’t just about accomplishing your goals. It’s also about how you go about accomplishing them. As Buddha once said, “It is better to travel well, than to arrive.”

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Broadening our definitions of success isn’t limited to individuals. Consider the country of Bhutan. For decades, the Buddhist kingdom on the eastern edge of the Himalayas has measured development beyond solely economic growth.

Their “Gross National Happiness” index considers a wide range of factors that contribute to overall well-being — from health and education to ecological diversity, community vitality and more. In doing so, Bhutan takes a holistic approach to measuring progress towards the goal of a happy and prosperous society. 

Reflection questions

1. How has your definition of success changed over time, and what influenced those changes?
   
2. Can you recall a time when something you initially saw as a failure turned out to be an important turning point or lesson? What shifted your perspective?
   
3. What messages about success or failure did you grow up with, and how do they impact your self-perception today?
   
4. When you’re facing a setback, what strategies or thoughts help you reframe the situation in a more positive or constructive light?
   
5. In your personal or professional life, how do you distinguish between a mistake and a learning opportunity?
   
6. How does your current definition of success support or hinder your overall wellness?
   
7. Think of a recent challenge you faced. How might you reframe that experience to highlight growth, resilience or self-discovery?
   
8. What role does self-compassion play in how you view your successes and failures?
   
9. How do you respond to others’ definitions of success, and in what ways do you feel pressure to conform or resist them?
   
10. What would it look like for you to create a personal definition of success that aligns fully with your values and well-being?

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Turn ideas into action with these suggested activities from our Resilience Toolbox.

More modules

Module 1. Making your own luck: Lessons learned from a coin flip

Module 2. Improving adaptability: Lessons learned from an absurd Christmas tree

Module 3. Embracing teamwork: Lessons learned from a rogue haybale

Module 4. Leveraging tools: Lessons learned from a poorly chosen sledgehammer

Module 5. Learning humility: Lessons learned from a very brief career as a valet

Module 6. Failing forward: Lessons learned from banshee babies and buttered butts

Module 7. Avoiding shortcuts: Lessons learned from a giant backpack

Module 8. Redefining success: Lessons learned from an idiotic bet

Module 9. Letting go: Lessons learned from a gooey pit of clay

Module 10. Taking responsibility: Lessons learned from trying to catch a train

Module 11. Getting creative: Lessons learned from the toboggan hill

Module 12. Fuelling motivation: Lessons learned from sleeping in a barn

Module 13. Handing over control: Lessons learned from riding in a shopping cart

Module 14. Practising gratitude: Lessons learned from a very special list

Module 15. Prioritizing self-care: Lessons learned from a surprise birthday celebration in the hospital

Module 16. Creating lasting change: Lessons learned from life’s awesome and absurd moments