Recognizing the Signs of a Fulfilling Life
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Chapter 1: The Subtle Indicators of a Great Life
Life often provides significant hints about your well-being, but you must be attentive to notice them.
Before diving deeper into this discussion, let me clarify my intention for writing this article. I am not here to dictate how to achieve a great life or to offer a checklist of easy steps to follow. My own life feels fulfilling, not because I've adhered to a random guide, but because I've devoted my time to what truly matters to me.
In this piece, I aim to help you recognize a crucial indication the universe sends your way when you're on the path to a fulfilling life. This clue is universal, but it requires your awareness to be perceived.
Now, let’s explore this clue by envisioning a typical day.
Section 1.1: Understanding Everyday Life
The vital clue will often manifest during your most mundane days. Life consists of numerous highs and lows that can make you feel ecstatic one moment and downcast the next. However, the majority of our days tend to be ordinary and routine, without any extraordinary events.
To assess the quality of your life, focus on these unremarkable days, as they are the most prevalent.
When I reflect on my life, I like to distinguish between my home and work environments. There have been instances where I felt completely at ease in my personal life while feeling discontent in my professional one, and vice versa. True fulfillment requires a balance in both realms.
If you work Monday through Friday, think about a typical workday and a regular weekend day. As you visualize these days, consider: Did I go to bed feeling good about my experiences?
That’s the essence of the clue.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Role of Purpose
The foundation of a remarkable day lies in having a sense of purpose. In other words, it’s impossible to lead a fulfilling life without being intentional in your actions.
Living with purpose doesn’t imply that you must be engaged in your 'destined' activities every moment. Rather, it signifies making wise choices with the time you have.
You put in effort, avoided mindlessly scrolling through social media, enjoyed the outdoors, connected with someone you care for, shared and received love, maintained a healthy diet, accomplished key tasks, and went to bed at a reasonable hour.
When you consistently approach life with intention, you’ll find yourself retiring for the night with a peaceful mind, and that clue will become apparent.
On the contrary, individuals who aren’t meeting these standards often lie awake with a plethora of negative thoughts.
"I forgot to pay that bill…"
"I didn't leave my room all day."
"I neglected to submit that assignment."
"I spent the entire day on social media."
"I keep postponing my job applications."
"I didn’t interact with anyone today."
"I keep delaying a call to my loved ones."
These thoughts can be distressing because your subconscious understands that you’re not maximizing your time — you’re procrastinating and failing to meet your own expectations.
Section 1.2: The Dual Nature of the Clue
The silver lining is that these issues are solvable since you’re aware of them. Deep down, you know what’s troubling you and hindering you from achieving a fulfilling life.
The downside, however, is that while pinpointing the issues is relatively straightforward, taking action often proves challenging for many.
Numerous individuals endure unsatisfying jobs or relationships because the thought of changing their circumstances feels overwhelming. They may suffer in silence for years or even decades, never experiencing what a "great life" truly entails, due to their reluctance to alter their environment and the people in it.
Chapter 2: My Personal Revelation
It struck me one night while I was enjoying a cigar under the stars. I was alone with my thoughts, reflecting on the day I had just lived.
That day was quite ordinary. I spent time with my wife and daughter, visited the market (a Saturday ritual), and strolled through a local street art festival. We savored coffee and delicious pizza for lunch before returning home for a nap. Later, we played in the park.
Despite being a typical Saturday, it left me feeling deeply fulfilled and purposeful. That was when I realized: You know you’re living well when the simplicity of your day brings you joy and satisfaction. This feeling can be summarized as 'purpose'.
Best wishes on your journey toward a fulfilling life — stay alert for that clue!
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