Working on Fulfillment

What does fulfillment mean to you?  What does a fulfilling life look like to you?  How would you know anyway?   Does this matter?

Yes, it does matter.  In fact, engaging in activities in your career, with your family, at your home--that you value gives your life deep meaning.  Spending time with people who share your values enhances your sense of well-being. Being connected to others makes you feel part of something bigger in good times and bad.

We are often asked, "how's it going?"  It's a closed-ended question begging a reply like "good" "not bad" "ok" or "just fine."  Unfortunately, the quality of our life merits more than a glib answer at least to ourselves. If we keep moving along, riding the tide of busy daily activities, we may never dive deeper to find out what lies beneath the surface, i.e. what is really happening now?  We can change that.  By slowing down long enough to "check in" with what is going on without judging, we can either affirm that what we are doing is what we want--or we can identify areas for improvement so that our lives become more intentional.

As human beings with a wide range of emotions and feelings, our mood and mindset are always shifting.   The season, the temperature, the lack of daylight, the mood of the people at work or home, the amount of quality sleep--are but a few of the many things that affect us and influence how we feel about anything.   Some days we get great joy from our personal relationships.  Other days, they are just ok.  That shift is normal.  We aren't capable of non-stop bliss or perfection.  We are capable of changing, though.  When we slow down long enough to notice we want more, then we are in the "sweet spot" whereby we can find it.

Abraham Lincoln once said that it's not the years in your life--but the life in your years that counts.  With that in mind, take your fulfillment temperature.   Be open to what comes up from reflecting on this.  If you discover you spend too much time on things that don't fulfill you--you have an opportunity to change.  If you discover you are exactly where you'd like to be, doing just what you like, then consider yourself affirmed.  If you are not sure--don't worry--keep asking because the answers will surface eventually.

We have but one precious life.  Not every moment can be thoughtful, worthwhile and well spent.  However, our lives must give us a sense of fulfillment, a sense of power, a sense of place--and that will bring a sense of happiness that we created ourselves.  That, itself, is profoundly meaningful and fulfilling.