Where does fulfillment come from for you?
This is an important question to ask yourself. I've worked with so many people who want to feel more happiness and contentment. They are tired of the hustle and the struggle of life. There's a distant dream of getting to a place "one day" when the waters are smooth and there's just enough breeze to coast.
I can't tell you or anyone else where fulfillment lies for you, but I can point out that you don't have to put it off. It helps me to realize that fulfillment isn't an end goal, some final dream state. Fulfillment happens in moments.Life is a blending of light and shadow, and I personally find the best flow when I allow this blending rather than resist it.
Look at Fulfillment with Curiosity
In my life, fulfillment comes from showing up. I literally feel fulfilled by gathering the courage to fully and authentically show up. The literal act of arrival. Fulfillment is not an end game for me, which is what we're taught. We'll be fulfilled in retirement, after acquiring something, et cetera. In the willingness to question when fulfillment arrives for me, I found this wasn't true at all. Too many other emotions come flooding in for me at closing time, so I gotta acknowledge and honor the sense of fulfillment on the early side.
Dig a Bit Deeper
We are multifaceted beings, so feel free to dig deeper. Fulfillment can show up in lots of different places. Personally, after showing up, I also feel fulfilled by persistence. The staying power. Stamina. The ability to show up again and again or to stick with a long-distance commitment. That's my satisfaction, not the completion. That doesn't mean I won't see something through and continue to show up — but it's more denouement. After battling all the blocks and making it through the murky bogs of resistance, the end is almost a let down. It's in the thick of things that I feel fulfilled. That's where the actual act of transformation takes place. I love that process even more than the final butterfly.
Look at Fulfilling Activities
When I think about activities that fulfill me, it's being of service. I love helping others move forward on their paths of transformation. I enjoy helping people who are helping themselves. I also love deeply connected conversations. These spark a galaxy of ideas for blog posts, writing, art and further conversations, so they feed me for quite a while. Fulfillment also arrives on the scene when I give wholly of myself without overgiving or overriding my own boundaries.
Where this Knowing Leads
Taking a moment to ponder this has shed light on some dark places. In many areas of my life, I've been making more instant gratification choices. I've also been struggling with bringing a few projects to completion. There's quite a lot of complacency. Hmmmm, this awareness may unlock some flow, especially the reminder that I'm fulfilled by persistence. I'm ready to feel more fulfilled a bit everyday. And the best part is? When I'm fulfilled I overflow and have more to offer through service. I'm happier, and I sleep better.
Show up Fully in Your Strengths
Sometimes in the pursuit of happiness we try to bypass the very things that allow us to show up fully in our strengths. Yes, that means we may have to face challenges. Through doing that, we experience more fulfillment and happiness. It rarely happens by avoiding those things.What's your take on this? Where and how does fulfillment show up for you? From contentment? or from being in it and showing up fully? Share with me what you find out about yourself — I'd love to hear.
