I definitely talk a lot about success on this blog. But I don’t think that I have mentioned fulfillment. Many times, when we think of becoming successful, we automatically assume that the feeling of fulfillment will follow.
Whether we think of it subconsciously or not, we do it. But I’m here to tell you that isn’t the case. You can have all the success you want and not be fulfilled.
You could have your dream job of being a doctor or helped to feed over a million starving children. But that doesn’t guarantee your fulfillment.
Yeah, I know disappointing. But I’m here to warn you now before it’s too late. Don’t bank your fulfillment on your success. Fulfillment can bring you success, at least success in your terms. But it is important to remember that success does not always guarantee fulfillment.
The goals and the ideas that you made to define your success may not fulfill you. The cars, the job, the house could all be amazing. But if it doesn’t fulfill you, what does it matter?
What does it mean to be fulfilled?
When you look up fulfillment, you will most likely get results about fulfillment centers for deliveries.
But that’s not what we are here to talk about today. I’m talking about personal fulfillment. Let’s dissect the meaning of fulfillment.
To fulfill is to meet your need or want. When it comes to personal development, fulfillment is meeting the needs of your inner passion. It is also when your life feels full. You no longer need anything else in life.
You are mentally and physically content with where you are in life. It is not always your whole life that is fulfilled. Sometimes you can feel fulfilled in one area of your life and that’s okay. Like you may feel fulfilled at work.
Well, how does it feel to be fulfilled?
Sometimes is a gut feeling of this is what I’m meant to do. This is my purpose. This is the point where you feel satisfied with where you are at this point in your life.
No one can tell you whether or not you feel fulfilled or not. This feeling is completely subjective to you. It is the feeling that you have made your life meaningful.
How is fulfillment different from success?
Unlike success, no one can label you as fulfilled or not fulfilled. Only you can determine whether or not you feel satisfied with the point you are at in your life.
Fulfillment also has this personal aspect of true happiness. It takes all our views, values, and beliefs and incorporates them into one. This is what happens when our view, beliefs, purpose, and values are all in agreement.
When the things that we achieve are in agreement with all these areas we can achieve fulfillment. Whereas success can be achieved without following your core values, purpose, or values. You can basically be a sell-out to yourself and still be successful.
It’s not the best way to achieve success in life because you may suffer in other areas of your life but it can still happen. But success is mostly measured by what you gain like more time, more money, more friends, influence, etc.
Fulfillment seeks none of that. Fulfillment is all about your internal measurements. It is what you feel deep inside you. It is a happiness that does not come from any outside things.
How do you achieve fulfillment?
Get comfortable listening to yourself.
You need to listen to what your mind and body are telling you if you want to find your inner passion. You can only unlock your fulfillment once you stop ignoring yourself.
Who cares what others think! The flute can be cool! If playing the flute fulfills you, then do it! You may not want to do it for a job. Too much pressure to be perfect. But it’s your way of letting loose. Nothing excites you more than learning new music!
Don’t get stuck on small issues.
When you are stuck on the small bumps in the road. You miss the journey and the whole picture. You can’t be grateful for all that you’ve gone through if you are still stuck on small errors.
So you messed up one line of your speech. No one knows you messed it up and they loved your speech! But because you can’t let it go, now you purposely hold yourself back in celebrating your first great speech.
In fact, in your mind, that was the most horrendous speech ever. The entire charity event is ruined for you because all you can think about was you saying “and” instead of “or” in your speech.
Live in the present.
Yes, every yoga/ meditation “expert” wannabe will tell you this. I hate to break it to you. They’re right. You need to live in the present and appreciate where you are now.
Stop living in the past or only focusing on your future. Too much of living in the wrong time zone, will burn you out and make you unappreciative of yourself at this very moment. Appreciate your today. You will never get today back and you can never relive yesterday. So, focus on the now. Find a way to be happy now.
Do something that you fear daily.
When you live in comfort, sometimes you stay stagnant. You never know what that little jump can do for you. You may realize that you actually like the adrenaline rush that comes from a rollercoaster.
Or that you are actually really good at making speeches to people. In fact, you actually kind of like it. Doing something new and doing stuff that you fear can open new doors for you.
It may not be bungee jumping. But maybe taking a leap and applying for that promotion may be the best thing that ever happens for you.
Spend time with the people you love.
Humans are social creatures. Yes, you could dedicate a lot of time to making more money so that you can pay your bills. But realize why you want to do that.
You are out there working for the ones you love, your family. But your family is still suffering because they lost time with you.
You wonder why you feel isolated. But you may be isolating yourself.
Re-evaluate who’s important in your life and spend more time with them. If you ask yourself what were the 3 best moments of your life and they include people who you no longer spend time with.
Ask yourself why and how you can increase the time you spend with them. Then make an effort to actually follow through with the plan.
Be you. Do you.
If you’re hiding under a mask, I doubt you are going to feel fulfilled any time soon. Feel free to be as quirky as you need. The people who stay with you are the ones who truly deserve you. And when I say to be you, I do not just mean the happy you.
That means the sad you, the angry you, the ecstatic you, the stressed you. Being free to express all your different sides and emotions will allow you to feel freer. And thereby, creating an overall happier you.
Conclusion
Success is not the same a fulfillment. Fulfillment is the internal happiness that is deep within you. It does not depend on physical objects, wealth, power, or influence.
It is when you feel like you have a purpose in life or your life has meant that you can achieve fulfillment. Fulfillment is knowing that you can spend times with your loved ones, be you, the real you, and live in the present.
It is being able to conquer little fears every day that lead you to find out something new and amazing about yourself. This is what you are looking for when you are seeking success. You are really seeking fulfillment.
Okay! I definitely had writer’s block. I think I wrote too much this week. But I’ve realized that I need to push myself to write on a scheduled time.
So, here I am and I did it. I’m making progress and it’s less stressful when I write on schedule because then I’m not rushing to think of something to post. Or it could also be that I need to find some inspiration. I need to get back to my podcasts.
But anyways…
Thanks for reading my rant,
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