Why fulfilment may be more desirable than success in life

We now live in a world where there is a real craze for material possessions (exotic cars, magnificent houses, and other fanciful things) and money as evidence of success. However, there is more to life than material possessions; there is more to living than just acquisition of the goodies of life.

Fulfilment is arrival; that feeling of tremendous satisfaction and happiness you get from doing what you’ve always wanted to do or being who you have always wanted to be or living where you’ve always wanted to live.

Success, on the other hand, is the amount of recognition and number of awards or accolades you have received in your chosen career or field. The number of tables you have sat in and the many connections that you have got and this list is endless. Success is defined in terms of material things/possessions.

Unlike success, fulfilment is immaterial. It’s that deep feeling of peace and ‘lasting’ happiness.
However, an individual may be highly successful but still not fulfilled. If you do not get that excitement or satisfaction or happiness in doing what you do, it may be said that you’re not yet fulfilled.

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It seems to me that becoming more and more successful is NOT necessarily a sine qua non for achieving fulfilment. In other words, success is not a means to an end, which is fulfillment. Fulfillment is an end by itself. And you can get there at any point in your life.

Happiness and fulfilment are two sides of the same coin; they are inseparable. You know it when you’ve found it. As it is in all matters of the heart, you will know it. Success, on the other hand, brings fleeting happiness. A successful person will always strive for more, quest for more, desire more, and when he is unable to achieve something, he may feel distraught and disoriented.

Unlike success, fulfilment does not fade with time and season; it’s always there–the feeling, the satisfaction, the strong motivation to keep working and adding value, the huge happiness, and you name it. Fulfillment is ever flowing satisfaction in the soul of a person who’s got it. Success isn’t like this. As a matter of fact, a successful person may still feel empty.

Success is often validated by people’s cheers but fulfilment is validated by cheers that come from the inside of you.

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Please think of that one thing or even two that you are currently doing right now that gives you the greatest happiness and satisfaction, or that thing you would always love to do or build, or that place you would love to spend the rest of your life. This could be dancing, teaching, giving/helping the needy, singing, writing, and you should know it. That is just it! Fulfilment!

How do you feel when you’re doing it? Does it excite you so much? Are you willing to give it all it takes so that the world will know the stuff you are made of. And you know, it does not always have to conform to the standards of this world. Do you feel gratified with the number of smiles what you are doing puts on people’s faces? Do you think it would advance the course of humanity? Does it make you kinder, more empathetic, and more considerate?

Think of all of this! That’s where fulfilment comes in. Though success and fulfilment can also co-exist.