Finding Fulfillment

Everybody longs for it, very few know what it means and many look in all the wrong places.  This week we are in search of fulfillment.

In my day job, I have been serving seniors for many years.  Spending time around them and hearing their stories of war, despair and triumph, have inspired me and on occasion, brought a tear to my eye.

The caregivers who care for these folks are truly unique.  The first time I was around them, I didn’t understand why these caregivers did what they did.  Caregivers don’t usually make much more than minimum wage and the hours are not always favorable.  Not to mention, most of us would not want to perform some of their required tasks.

So why are these folks so happy to do their job?  They get little compensation yet go to work with a smile, have a great attitude and do it while looking forward to their next shift.  The only reason I can find for this is that they have something very few have.  They find fulfillment in what they do.

Most try to find this in money.  The more money you make must equate to fulfillment, right?  What if we buy more new, shiny stuff or get the latest and greatest in technology?  Maybe that will help us find fulfillment.  Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.

Caregivers have found something very few find.  They feel complete and fulfilled by their service and giving to others.  Helping those who can no longer fully help themselves, pays them back huge dividends internally.

How many people have bought into the lie that in order to find fulfillment, you have to be wealthy, influential, or be financially successful?  I could introduce you to 20 plus people who hold none of these traits yet their lives are content with so little.

When you find what you love to do, you could do it all day long, it gives you energy, despite what it pays, there you will usually find fulfillment.  With that, comes peace, meaning and clarity about life.

Fulfillment is found in what we do.  What we get is a by-product of what we do.  True, some find fulfillment in their accomplishments.  Entrepreneurs who build empires are usually well rewarded.  For most of them, it is the sense of building something from nothing that brings fulfillment.

What could you do every day, all day if you had to, and at the end of the day feel like you made a difference?  Is it to a single person or a group of people?

Look and focus your energy in that direction.  There is where fulfillment is waiting to complete your life.

Have a great Friday everyone, be blessed.

When we Want it Bad Enough...

This last summer, I was teaching my youngest daughter, who is five, how to ride a bicycle. I had worked with her many times but the last time, I noticed that she became less interested and I, in return became frustrated. In midsummer, I threw away her training wheels. I wanted her to ride the bike the way it was intended to be ridden. Her neighbor friends were riding their bikes and she kept telling me she wanted to learn. So, with a little inspiration from her dad, she was usually willing to give it another try. During our last attempt, I could tell she was not giving it sincere effort. I saw my own patience growing thinner. The day I thought would be the magic day was quickly becoming just the opposite. In my frustration, I took a step back, and realized what was going on. She did not share my same desire. She wanted to ride, but not bad enough. For whatever reason, human nature demands that we truly desire something before we will give it our heartfelt effort. I don’t understand why this is, I just know it is. History has shown us this as far back as we can look. We want to make more money but we don’t. We want healthier relationships but we don’t. We want to kick unhealthy habits but we don’t. We want to exercise more but we don’t. The list is huge! Why? Because wanting is not enough, we have to hunger for it. Often we have to make or break habits in order to get what we want and it is not always easy. In fact, it can be downright daunting. This element alone is why we have to hunger for something before we will do what is needed to get it. Within a lot of us lies the want but there is an internal battle that takes place. This battle rages between what we want and what we have always known. Which one will win is largely determined by the one we feed. We must be ready and willing to take the risk to do something new to get something we have never had before. This is not always comfortable and fear can sometimes raise its ugly head. But you know what fear is, right? It is nothing more than: False, Evidence, Appearing Real. I know when my daughter reaches a point of truly wanting to ride her bike, she will. It won’t be because her dad pushed her, it will be because she was ready and willing to take the risk to get something she has never had before. Only then will she climb on the bike and ride it. Have a great Friday everyone, be blessed.