A Life Fulfilled

"The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." - V. Frankl

It was late in the morning about two weeks ago that I stopped by the Dry Cleaner to drop-off a blazer. As I was leaving, I literally ran into Dave, a former colleague who retired a few years before me. After he dropped off some laundry, we spent the next 10 minutes standing in the parking lot reminiscing, sharing pictures of grandchildren and lamenting the cold weather. As he was leaving he commented, “You know we’re pretty lucky Rick, it sounds like we both have fulfilling lives.” I smiled, agreed and really didn’t give it another thought, until I heard the same phrase again this week.

The comment was generated in an email. It was from one of my readers who has followed this blog from the beginning. The note began with a thank-you for what she referred to as, my Sunday note from Rick. It was very gracious, citing some stories in particular, but it was her closing comments that struck me, “Rick, the stories about the Wolfpups, the work you are doing at your Church and the positive approach to life you encourage, make me believe that you are living a very fulfilled life. God bless!” The words resonated and gave me reason to pause, as fulfilled is not a word I commonly use to describe my own life. 

Optimist and author Simon Sinek would connect my fulfillment in life to my WHY; my deep-seated beliefs that are the source of my passion and inspiration. He would say that I live a fulfilled life because there is a direct relationship between many of the things I do and the values that guide my life (faith, family, service). Dominick DeAngelis, a leadership and performance coach shares, “Fulfillment is about living a deeply meaningful life, a life of purpose and satisfaction." Fulfillment is not necessarily about happiness. It is about meaning; deep meaning. In a word, fulfillment is about being fully ALIVE!  

So how does one set the stage for a fulfilled life? It begins with core values! Simply put, our personal core values define who we are and what matters to us as an individual. Ideally, they guide where we invest our time, energy, and resources. When our core values are compromised by our actions, we generally feel aggravated, depressed, or diminished. Likewise when our actions are in line with our core values, we experience a sense of inspiration. Generally speaking, when we live a life of integrity and one that's consistent with our values we begin the journey toward a more fulfilled life.

WIth the stage set, the journey to a fulfilling life begins. Recent research conducted by the Metrus Institute, reveals that the vast majority of us harbor a desire to experience a fulfilled life. This is often perceived as achieving a state of long-term happiness and conscientiously living up to our potential. Interestingly, only twenty percent of those participating in this study reported being totally fulfilled. The others cited missing components of their life including personal relationships, professional/career letdowns, and/or a failure to live a balanced life. So what were the magic ingredients ?

Those reporting a strong sense of fulfillment with their lives identified five factors that served to help them achieve it. I’ve added a sixth.

1. They Have a Life Plan - The most fulfilled people talk about a life vision or life goals that frame everything they do, not just professionally, but at home and in other aspects of their lives.
2. Their Lives are Balanced - The most fulfilled contemplate their overall life balance—career, relationships, family, health, hobbies, religion or spirituality—whereas many of the less fulfilled focus unilaterally on work. 
3. They Adapt - Change is constant, and the most fulfilled people are able to adapt their ambitions and dreams along the way. While they don’t sacrifice their values, they adapt to the situation. They make adjustments, move on and recreate their future. 
4. They Practice Self Care - Although health and wellness might seem intuitive, it was one of the key things that many people referenced. Those identifying themselves as having a fulfilling life, take care of themselves through exercise, proper nutrition, and managing stress.  
5. They Give Back - Many find this factor most important. The most fulfilled talked about giving back to others and enabling others to become successful. They cited volunteering as mentors or coaches, even when it’s not part of their jobs. Some have served on not-for-profit boards or volunteered in their community.
6. They Seek Meaning - A life fulfilled is not the result of life events, rather, it is seeking the meaning in that which has shaped our past, enables our present, and creates the springboard to our future.

I strive to live my life in a manner that touches the lives of those around me; hopefully helping them to find happiness, productivity and inner peace. Perhaps that is why I feel fulfilled. Have a great week and keep

Embracing the Challenge!