7 habits of successful people who are destined for great things in life, says psychology

For years, I wondered what separated truly successful people from the rest.

Was it luck? Talent? The right connections?

But the more I studied psychology and human behavior, the clearer it became—success isn’t just about circumstances. It’s about habits.

The small daily choices that shape our mindset, discipline, and ability to keep moving forward even when things get tough.

As the founder of Hack Spirit and a long-time psychology enthusiast, I’ve spent years diving deep into what makes people thrive.

And time and again, I’ve found that those who are destined for great things follow certain habits—whether they realize it or not.

In this article, I’ll share seven of these key habits. If you want to take your life to the next level, these are the behaviors worth adopting.

Let’s dive in.

1) They take full responsibility for their lives

One of the biggest differences between successful people and everyone else? They don’t make excuses.

They don’t blame their circumstances, their past, or other people for where they are in life. Instead, they take full ownership of their actions, choices, and mindset.

For years, I used to think life was happening to me. I blamed my job, my upbringing, and even bad luck for why I wasn’t where I wanted to be.

But the moment I shifted my mindset and started taking responsibility, everything changed.

Psychologists call this having an “internal locus of control”—the belief that you have the power to shape your own life.

People with this mindset are more motivated, resilient, and ultimately more successful.

If you want to be destined for great things, start by asking yourself: Where am I making excuses? Where can I take more responsibility?

The moment you stop waiting for external change and start taking charge of your own life is the moment real success begins.

2) They embrace failure as a stepping stone

For a long time, I was terrified of failure.

I avoided risks, stayed in my comfort zone, and hesitated to go after what I really wanted because I didn’t want to mess up. But ironically, that fear of failure was the very thing holding me back.

The turning point came when I launched Hack Spirit. In the beginning, I had no idea what I was doing.

I made mistakes—plenty of them. Some articles flopped, some ideas went nowhere, and there were moments when I questioned whether I should even keep going.

But over time, I started seeing failure differently. Instead of viewing it as proof that I wasn’t good enough, I began treating it as feedback—a way to learn and improve.

Psychologist Carol Dweck, known for her work on mindset, once said: “Becoming is better than being.”

In other words, success isn’t about getting everything right the first time—it’s about growing through the process.

Once I embraced that idea, everything changed. I started taking more chances, learning faster, and seeing every setback as a stepping stone rather than a dead end.

If you want to be successful, stop fearing failure. Instead, ask yourself: What is this teaching me? How can I use this to grow?

Because the people who are destined for great things aren’t the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who refuse to give up.

3) They are relentless about their goals

Most people set goals. But successful people? They commit to them with an almost obsessive determination.

I learned this the hard way when I first decided to turn Hack Spirit into a full-time business.

At the time, it was just a small blog with a handful of readers. I had no roadmap, no guarantee of success—just a vision of what I wanted to create.

There were plenty of reasons to quit. Some days, traffic was low, and it felt like no one was paying attention to what I was writing.

Other days, self-doubt crept in, making me wonder if I was wasting my time.

But I kept going. I woke up early, stayed up late, and wrote articles even when I didn’t feel like it. I treated my goal like a non-negotiable priority, not just a vague dream.

And eventually, that relentless effort paid off. The blog grew, opportunities opened up, and what once seemed impossible became my reality.

Psychologists call this “grit”—the ability to keep pushing forward despite obstacles or setbacks.

Studies show that grit is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success, even more than intelligence or talent.

So ask yourself: Are you treating your goals as optional? Or are you relentlessly pursuing them, no matter what?

Because the people destined for great things don’t wait for motivation—they show up and do the work, every single day.

4) They surround themselves with the right people

There’s a saying: You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

For years, I didn’t take this seriously.

I hung out with people who complained about life, made excuses, and never pushed themselves to grow. And without realizing it, their mindset rubbed off on me.

But when I started surrounding myself with ambitious, positive people—people who were actively working toward big goals—I noticed a shift.

Their energy was contagious. I felt more motivated, more focused, and more inspired to take action in my own life.

Science backs this up. A study published in “The New England Journal of Medicine” found that behaviors—both good and bad—are highly influenced by our social circles.

The research showed that if a close friend becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese increase by 57%.

The same principle applies to success: if you consistently spend time with driven, high-achieving individuals, you’re far more likely to adopt their habits and mindset.

So take a look at your circle. Are the people around you inspiring you to grow? Or are they holding you back?

Because the truth is, success isn’t just about what you do—it’s also about who you choose to surround yourself with.

5) They prioritize deep work over busy work

For a long time, I thought being busy meant being productive.

I would fill my days with emails, small tasks, and endless to-do lists—thinking that the more I did, the closer I was to success. But in reality, I was just spinning my wheels.

The real game-changer came when I discovered the concept of “deep work”—the ability to focus intensely on high-value tasks without distractions.

Instead of scattering my attention across dozens of small things, I started blocking out time for deep, focused work sessions.

The difference was massive. My writing improved, Hack Spirit grew faster than ever, and I finally felt like I was making real progress instead of just staying busy.

According to Cal Newport, author of “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World”, deep work is what separates high achievers from everyone else.

He argues that in a world filled with distractions, those who can master sustained focus will always have a competitive edge.

If you want to be truly successful, stop mistaking busyness for progress. Instead, ask yourself: What are the high-impact tasks that will truly move me forward?

Focus on those—and watch how much faster you grow.

6) They master their emotions instead of letting emotions control them

There was a time when my emotions ran the show.

If I felt unmotivated, I wouldn’t work. If I was anxious, I’d avoid challenges. If something frustrated me, I’d let it ruin my whole day.

But the more I studied psychology, the more I realized that truly successful people don’t let their emotions dictate their actions—they master their emotions and keep moving forward regardless of how they feel in the moment.

A turning point for me came when I started practicing mindfulness and emotional awareness.

Instead of reacting impulsively to every emotion, I learned to step back, observe my feelings, and choose how to respond.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman, who popularized the concept of emotional intelligence, put it perfectly:

“If you are tuned out of your own emotions, you will be poor at reading them in other people.”

In other words, success isn’t just about intelligence or hard work—it’s about understanding and managing your own emotions effectively.

If you want to be destined for great things, don’t let temporary emotions derail you.

Instead, develop the self-awareness to recognize them, the discipline to keep going despite them, and the wisdom to use them as fuel rather than roadblocks.

7) They take more breaks (but the right way)

It sounds counterintuitive, but some of the most successful people aren’t grinding 24/7—they’re actually taking more breaks.

For a long time, I thought working harder and longer was the key to success. I’d push through exhaustion, skip breaks, and convince myself that resting was a waste of time.

But ironically, this made me less productive. I was burned out, unfocused, and constantly running on empty.

Then I learned about the “science of strategic breaks”—how stepping away at the right moments can actually boost focus, creativity, and long-term performance.

Studies show that short breaks improve concentration and prevent mental fatigue, especially when they involve movement or a change in environment.

Now, instead of forcing myself to power through exhaustion, I follow the “Pomodoro Technique”: 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break.

During those breaks, I step away from my screen, stretch, or take a quick walk. The result? More energy, sharper thinking, and higher-quality work.

If you’re constantly feeling drained or struggling to stay productive, try this: “Set a timer for 25 minutes of deep work, then take a 5-minute break away from your workspace.”

You’ll be surprised how much more you get done—without burning yourself out in the process.

Final thoughts

Success isn’t about luck or talent—it’s about the small, consistent habits you build every day.

The good news? You don’t have to change everything at once.

Start with just one habit from this list. Maybe it’s taking full responsibility for your life, embracing failure, or practicing deep work.

Focus on that one habit until it becomes second nature—then move on to the next.

Remember, real success is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep showing up, keep improving, and over time, you’ll become the kind of person who is destined for great things.