WISH FULFILLMENT

DISTINCTION #6:

Fulfillment 
Versus
Satisfaction

I am satisfied when I finish my Pilate's workout, eat a piece of chocolate – not necessarily in that order or so close together! I am satisfied when I have a good hair day, finish a tough blog, find the perfect winter jacket, finish a challenging book on neurobiology and, actually retain something. All very satisfying. These things however, do not begin to cross into the realm of fulfilling. They do not and cannot create a feeling of being and expressing me. I do not know about you, but I want more than to be satisfied. I want to be lit from within, inspired and invigorated. I want to know that even when I am feeling darker, unmotivated and not so energized, that I am fulfilled. I want to be fulfilled in and by the knowledge that I have got my back, I get me and I wholeheartedly endorse and embrace this experience, my life. I want to fulfill dreams, relationships, goals and desires. I want to engage fully in life; impacting others and expressing in thought and deed. Indeed that would be satisfying.

“Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.” ~Elbert Hubbard

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION - GUARANTEED?

Satisfaction is something you experience when you meet a need or a want, whereas a fulfillment comes from acknowledging and living out your values and being true to your being. Satisfaction is more immediate. It often results from external validation or praise: someone loves your writing, your shirt, how you parent and the job you did on a project. It is the result of a deliberate activity or choice intended to satiate a physical, emotional and mental need or want. There is nothing wrong with satisfaction. It is good. It can mean life is going well and overall there is contentment and peace. When you are satisfied you are living free from addictive behaviors and relief providers. Relief is that temporary, quick fix and is used to avoid pain, stress and unhappiness. It shows up as TV, food addictions, gambling, Facebook. When you are living from a satisfied place you are beyond the quick fixes and you have evolved; meeting your true needs and wants and acknowledging the feelings that are present in your life. So get some satisfaction. It is a great place to start, to be and to live. Once you consistently feel satisfied you begin to aim for fulfillment.

“I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.”

~ Hilaire Belloc

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

Fulfillment is really what all my clients are looking for, fed up with merely satisfying, you seek meaning and purpose and expression of self. It is the feeling of being fully engaged in life, fully realized, fully present. Fulfillment comes from an internal place and is the lock and key, the tuning fork, the soul mate. Fulfillment is not seeking anything external to validate or reassure or recognize. It is the joy and energy that comes from honoring yourself, whether others notice or not. You desire to feel fulfilled, as well as to fulfill. You want to know that you are harnessing your strengths, expressing your values and giving life you. You want to fill your life not with meaningless things, but with meaning, not with validation but values, not with revolving activities, but evolving self.  You do this by becoming aware of who you are, understanding what is important to you and taking actions to support that vision. When you are expressing and living from a deep down, soul place, you are fulfilled.

Fulfillment: Internal, Values and Meaning, On Purpose, For Yourself and Beyond, Awareness and Expression, Holistic, Overflowing 

Satisfaction: External, Wants and Needs, In Response, For Yourself, Atomistic, Enough