EACH person defines what it means to have a “fulfilled life” in his or her own way. For some, it means following artistic passions, finding the right career, or helping others. For others, it means building satisfying relationships and strong community ties. For still others, it means living a life of adventure and adrenalin-producing risk. But for most of us, it’s an individualized balance of all of the above.
Although I write about a fulfilled life as though it’s something we can achieve (and I believe we can), it’s not a static thing. We are always developing, growing, changing, and evolving. Our ideas about what fulfills us change over time, so that although we may feel perfectly fulfilled at some point, a day or a week later we may feel a vague sense of dissatisfaction and a desire to do something new.
This week, our journaling prompts explore what living a fulfilled life means to you:
- Make a list of your criteria for a fulfilled life. Areas to consider: health/fitness, creativity, play, education, financial status, relationships, spirituality, relaxation.
– - Elaborate about each item on your list. For example, if it’s important to you to be continually learning new things, what does that look like? How do you imagine making that happen? And why is it important to you?
– - Reflecting on your list, which of these things seems most difficult or least fulfilled for you at this time? Freewrite for five minutes about their perceived obstacles, then freewrite for five minutes about how you will feel when you’re doing/being/having those things. Do you feel that you need to make some changes in your life to feel more fulfilled? What would have to happen? What would you have to say “no” to, and what would you need to say “yes” to?
– - Reflecting on your list, which of these things do you currently have in your life? Is there anything in common about these things? If so, what? And what is most fulfilling about them? (For example, perhaps you feel fulfilled in your nursing career and as a mother because you enjoy helping others. Or you feel fulfilled in your artistic career and as a business consultant because you enjoy finding creative solutions to things.)
– - Prioritize your list. Recognizing that all of these items are important to you (or you would not have listed them), which is most important to you and why? Which is least important to you and why?
– - How does your life reflect your current priorities? How does it not?
– - Imagine having/being/doing everything on your list. Start a new page in your journal, and title it “A Week in the Life of (your name).” Describe a wonderfully fulfilled week. What happens? Who with? What do you do or not do? Have fun with this — there are no limitations.
It’s fun and enlightening to journal on a regular basis about what makes for a fulfilled life. Over the years, you’ll see shifts and spirals and patterns to your desires.
So, what makes your life most fulfilling? Leave a comment and share the joy.
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Image credit: Dimitris Papazimouris
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love lists and need to know how to prioritize better, there is so many things I want to fit into each day! great prompt. 🙂
Thanks, iHanna. I’m (obviously) a list-maker, too. In writing about what makes for a fulfilling life, hopefully we’ll explore some of the deeper values underlying our priorities as well.
Honestly, I just stumbled across your blog. And I’ve only read a few entries so far- but have to say this is so uplifting. Great tips! Things like this should be done frequently. But we often forget to spend time on ourselves and forget why we are doing what we are doing- to lead a more fulfilled life. Great reminder. Good luck and hope you are/on your way to achieve all the great things in life 🙂