A happy life is a meaning-filled life, not a happy-go-lucky one. If we were to boil down the importance of fulfillment in life to one sentence, it would be this: Happiness comes from knowing who you are, what you stand for, and what you love to do. A fulfilled life is one with purpose and meaning; a happy life is an easy one. A fulfilled life involves constantly working toward something, growing as a person, and learning new things. A happy life only requires that everything goes your way with little struggle or anxiety along the way. However, when most people think of living a fulfilled life, they think of things like sacrifice and hard work. But why? We’ll explain…
What Does Fulfillment Mean to You?
First, let’s clarify what fulfillment is not: It’s not a synonym for wealth, success, or happiness. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Indeed, many people confuse happiness with fulfillment, which is problematic because it leads to the assumption that fulfillment can only be achieved once one is happy. This is completely false. Fulfillment is more about who you are and what you’re giving to the world, whereas happiness is all about how you feel.
Is Fulfillment and Happiness the Same Thing?
These two words are often used synonymously, but we want to clear up the confusion: Their definitions are not interchangeable. Fulfillment is about being content and fulfilled in your life; happiness is about your overall mood. There is a common misconception about the relationship between these two things, which is that one has to be happy to be fulfilled. This misconception is harmful—not only to your fulfillment but also to your happiness. Fulfillment is about meeting your needs in life; happiness is about your mood. They are completely different constructs. If you try to force yourself to be happy when you are not, it will actually make you less happy. Happiness is a state of being that you can choose to put yourself in, but it doesn’t always last. Fulfillment is a state of being that comes from achieving important goals and needs in life such as connecting with others, using your strengths, and learning new things.
Fulfillment Comes From Struggle and Growth
Fulfillment is often reached through struggle and growth. The more you are challenged in your life, the more opportunity you will have to grow as a person and discover who you are. Fulfillment doesn’t come to those who just sit around, waiting for good things to happen. It comes to those who want more out of life and are willing to do what it takes to achieve it. We live in a world that glorifies happiness over fulfillment, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means we have to be more aware of the difference between the two. If you are constantly striving to do more and be better, you will be happier and more fulfilled in the long run.
So, Why Is Happiness So Important?
Happiness is the goal we all strive for. We all want to be happy, but the problem is that we often choose things in life that will not bring us happiness. We often think that material possessions, romantic relationships, and fancy jobs will make us happy. Or we may believe that other people have the power to make us happy. But the truth is that we are happiest when we are using our strengths, connecting with others, and challenging ourselves. Happiness is important because it allows us to feel good, connect with others, and be productive.
A Word From BeyondPsychub
The bottom line is that you want to be happy, but you also want to be fulfilled. As we said, they are two different things, but they often go together. Fulfillment is about meeting your needs in life and giving your life meaning and purpose, while happiness is about your overall mood. Thus, you can make sure you are both happy and fulfilled by making sure you are doing what you love and what will bring you fulfillment in life.
