Learn to Live a Fulfilled Life
What does fulfillment in life mean? And how to learn to live a fulfilled life? Let’s find it out. This website will help you find the secrets to live a fulfilled life. Fulfillment has two parts to its meaning. First, a sense of happiness or satisfaction. Second, a sense of accomplishment that one would have yearned for. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the foundation of this website. The aim of the website is to help readers navigate through the hierarchy of needs. Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper, A Theory of Human Motivation. It starts from psychological or biological needs to finally achieving self-actualization or self-fulfillment needs. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this blog has an overarching theme of 10 drivers to find fulfillment in life.
Contents
This Website Outlines 10 Topics to Realize a Fulfilled Life
Gratitude
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful for what we have and showing appreciation towards it. There may be never ending wants in life, but gratitude teaches us is being grateful for what we have. Because there are people in the world who don’t even have what we have. So why hanker for more and more? How can we be content with what life has gifted us with? And enjoy the little things in life.
Selfless- Contribution
Selfless contribution is the act of contributing, with no expectation of getting anything in return. If we help and do something for others as our duty, we are contributing selflessly. Let’s say I exist because we exist. We live in an inter-dependent world. So we cannot incessantly only take from the world and not give back. Even if we expect nothing back, we actually become bigger and gain more by giving to others selflessly. We gain more in contentment and richness of our hearts.
Purpose
The purpose is the direction of life. Find purpose in life goes concurrently with self-realization. Without purpose, life can become a rudderless ship.
Learning
Learning coupled with experiences helps builds our skills. Skills subsequently provide the foundation to earn our livelihoods.
Livelihood
Livelihood is the monetization of our skills to earn the necessities of our life.
Health
No wonder health is referred to as wealth–we get the dividends as we age. It takes a lot of disciplined effort to build and maintain our health.
Relationship
Robert Waldinger, who is the director of a 75-year-extensive study of adult development, concluded that the most critical contributor to living a fulfilled life is strong relationships. He shared in TED Ideas worth spreading, “What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone.”
Leisure
How does leisure help in finding fulfillment? Leisure is the opportunity to rejuvenate our body, mind, and soul. It’s like the pit-stop in our life and prevents us from burning out.
Quality of life
How does the quality of life make a difference in living a fulfilled life? Human beings co-exist in a society trying to maintain a balance with nature. According to World Happiness Report (WHR) the 5 Nordic countries have been leading the happiness index. “Through reviewing the existing studies, theories, and data behind the World Happiness Report, we find that the most prominent explanations include factors related to the quality of institutions, such as reliable and extensive welfare benefits, low corruption, and well-functioning democracy and state institutions.”
Self-Actualization
Self actualization is the realization of one’s fullest potential. Achieving our fullest potential is a journey. And this is the journey we undertake throughout our lives. It is the highest human need, as defined in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. So when we are in our death beds, this is what most people look back and ask: did we achieve our full potential in our lives? Did we live a fulfilling life? Did we follow our calling in life? And did we make any impact on the world or leave a legacy? Or just did we do all our duties sincerely with our family as son or daughter, siblings, spouse, parents or grandparents? Many also relate self-actualization to finding the ultimate truth of life or finding god.
Learn to Live a Fulfilled Life
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological Needs
First, our biological needs, like food, clothes, shelter, and sex, drive these needs. The livelihood category of this website shall cover means for earning a living, which addresses our physiological needs.
Safety Needs
Second, once our we satisfy our physiological needs, the need for security and safety arises. We need order, predictability, and control in our lives through family, society, schools for education, organized job and businesses, and adequate medical care. The learning, livelihood, health, and quality of life categories of this website shall cover these needs.
Love and Belongingness Needs
Third level of human needs is for love, social relationships, and belongingness. The relationship and, to some extent, leisure categories shall cover these needs.
Esteem Needs
Fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy comprises two categories: esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and the desire for reputation or respect from others (status, prestige). The quality of life, leisure, wealth, learning through higher education, and to some extent purpose of life, categories shall cover these needs.
Self-Actualization Needs
Fifth, are the highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy and refer to the realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak potential. The purpose of life, wisdom through learning, financial freedom through wealth generation shall cover these needs.