“Being happy is my success.” Elena Doom
Now a VP at Honeywell, Elena looked inside for her own definition of success. I’ve found that inner work enables bigger picture savvy. It allows me to gain a broader perspective regarding my purpose and me in the world. Being driven to succeed doesn’t necessarily explain why you’re driven, or give rise to a particular vision of success. As I’ve progressed through roles with increasing levels of responsibility, questions of success have kept me company: What’s next? How do I achieve more with less? Unaware of what drove me, I acted without knowing where the script came from or who was giving stage direction. Eventually I went deeper for answers. Dropping out of my head, into my body, I began
processing the emotional memory bank that steered my motivations and determined my preferences. Doing inner work meant thinking about who I am, what really motivates me, and what I love about my work— shifting from “I’ll be happy when…” to, “I am happy now.” Going deep meant growing up, personally and professionally. This new awareness helps me attract purpose-driven opportunities. I often worked from a reactive, emotional place, causing directional uncertainty and exhaustion. Unable to access the internal resources I needed, I depended heavily on prioritization tactics. Navigating from heart-
centeredness automatically brought purpose, and produced nonreplicable fulfillment in the pursuit of achievement. I’m now more proactive, owning my direction rather than being moved by external forces. Being happy is my success. It will always include a sense of accomplishment, a willingness to foster success in others, and a commitment to become more effective. Inner work helps me lift the fog of emotions and allows me to gain greater perspective, so I can see more clearly what’s in front of me. From there, I act with a confidence that brings results. PDJ
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