AIM FOR A FULFILLED LIFE – NOT A PERFECT ONE
Studies reveal that two-thirds of us are dissatisfied with our lives – unable to achieve our dreams thanks to a lack of money and time. But Emma says it’s easier than we think...
We all have dreams W (eg buying a holiday home, swimming with dolphins, or owning a designer handbag), but it often feels like life gets in the way. However, while achieving dreams like these may generate pleasure, it’s often short-lived. And once the initial thrill has passed, you can be left feeling empty and looking for your next happiness hit. FIND YOUR PURPOSE Real contentment comes from creating positive experiences that sustain you, and from feeling you have a purpose in life. To find that, you need to first distinguish between what you can and can’t control. It’s easy to feel unfulfilled or disappointed because there are certain things affecting your life that are beyond your control (you can’t afford a stunning holiday home in Ibiza). So remember – if you can’t influence it, don’t obsess over it. Instead, focus on the areas where you can make a difference (you can save up, do your research and find a gorgeous holiday for this year instead).
Then, it’s a matter of establishing how you’re going to achieve your goals. Often in life we don’t fulfil our dreams because they feel too overwhelming or out of reach. Breaking down goals into achievable, time-bound chunks, which reflect what you really value, allows you to monitor your progress and reach that target.
Perhaps you want to change your career to something more creative, but you work long hours and don’t have the qualifications. Research dream jobs, and what you’d have to do to get one, then make small weekly plans; email someone who has that job to ask to shadow them, update your CV, book a training course.
FOCUS ON THE GOOD
Finally, learn the art of gratitude. It’s all-too easy to compare your life to other people’s and find it lacking. But in doing that, we often overlook the richness of our own lives and take for granted friends and family, and the happiness they bring us.
If you can recognise what’s truly important in life and invest your time and effort in those relationships and experiences, you’ll be genuinely fulfilled.