4 Quick Keys to Fulfillment

It sounds so cliche’. Can anyone really give another person keys to fulfillment? How can one person, with their own unique experiences possibly give someone of different background, ethnicity, age or gender keys to fulfillment in their life, when the two might be nothing alike. They may not even know anything about each other.

Even though the concept of fulfillment is unique to each individual, there is a commonality about it. It may come down to Maslow’s Hierarchy. We all have basic needs that ascend in magnitude to self-actualization.

For those of us, who were abused, the idea of fulfillment might be foreign. I would like you to know that anyone can be fulfilled in this life by employing these 4 keys.

I call this “4 Quick Keys” for a reason. They are foundational. Like table legs. These quick concepts can help anyone become the best at being themselves. That is when we are in the zone, as some might say. We each have a special purpose for our lives; a question only we can answer, a cure only we can find, a solution only we can manifest, a process only we can create, a treasure only we can find, a word only we can give, or a way no one else can show.

Small hinges open big doors. This commonly used metaphor means that it is usually the small things that we do that allow us to do great things. These keys will help you unlock the door to your future.

1. Get to know yourself. What do you like? What do you hate? What gives you joy? What grieves your heart? What do you think about that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful? What thoughts make your muscles tense and your stomach turn?
2. Get to know how you process your world. Do you learn by hearing, by watching, by doing, by reading, by talking through things or a combination of some methods? Are there learning or blocking triggers: things that help you feel relaxed, so you can learn easily or things that make you feel like you cannot grasp the information or maybe block your ability to retain it?
3. Get to know your gifts and talents. Make a list of the things that come super easy to you. Those are gifts. Make a list of things that take some work, but you really master them. These are talents. Attributes can be lumped in with gifts, since they are part of your make-up. Do you excel at certain things? Do others tell you that you’re good at this or that? You might need some help from a trusted confidant to develop your list.
4. Get to know your opportunities. Your opportunities are not the same as mine. You may live in a different area of the world with different laws, different cultural provisions, different geography, perhaps a different financial environment or different social channels. Be careful not to limit yourself. There are usually ways of doing things that are not obvious.

Now that you’ve read through my quick keys, you’re likely thinking that they won’t be quick to implement. That’s true! I also suggest that we periodically line these keys up to see if they have changed.

I bet some of you are thinking, “Where does the fulfillment part come in?” When you have these in line, finding and implementing your own path to fulfillment comes much easier. The hard part is going through the process to figure out who you are, how you relate to the world, what you have to contribute and then figuring out what direction to take to accomplish you unique purpose in this world.

Just to give you an example, let’s say you love snuggling cats. You are really good with animals. You relate well to other pet owners. You need to earn a living though, and playing with your pet doesn’t sound like a way to get a meal on the table. However, let’s say that you look up the requirements to owning a single member limited liability company. It’s a small investment and a reasonable amount of paperwork, but you think you can do it or get someone to help you. You could start a pet care business of your own. Starting your own business might be a huge goal, but you could start with a job at a pet store, a pet sitting service or a kennel. That way you’d learn how it would work or do both at the same time to keep a roof over your head.

No one has the perfect life. There is trouble for everyone. We are either entering a time of trouble, in a time of trouble or we’ve just come through a time of trouble. I’m not talking about alleviating all stress or difficulty, but I am saying that each of us can work within our purpose and feel fulfilled.

What do you think would be your ideal fulfilled lifestyle?