Psychology Today: 3 Things You Can Do Today to Feel More Fulfilled

Leading a fulfilling life often involves chasing one’s dreams, having the courage to do what feels most important, and feeling ‘whole’ under the pressure of social norms.

Research suggests that fulfillment in life goes hand in hand with concepts such as legacy, life satisfaction, and happiness—making it a fundamental component of mental health. Fortunately, new studies in the field of positive psychology have begun to show promising results in support of the tangible cultivation of fulfillment.

1. Practice gratitude to attain wholeness.

Research has demonstrated that gratitude is essential to mitigating objectification and enhancing individual wholeness.

There are many ways that people can invite more gratitude into their lives, such as:

• Reflecting on the most important things: Take a few minutes out of your day to reflect on what you most appreciate in your life (like a new favorite movie or book or the opportunity to bask in the sunshine).
• Spending time in nature: Being in nature elicits strong feelings of gratitude and thankfulness.
• Showing appreciation for others: Expressing gratitude for others is a powerful method of receiving it yourself.

2. Develop a zest for life.

Do you want to live life to the fullest and make every day count? If yes, then you likely have a strong ‘zest for life.’ Put simply, zest refers to the act of doing things wholeheartedly.

Research on zest and other character strengths shows that integrating zest in your life can lead to higher life satisfaction, motivation, and gratitude for the people and things that surround you.

To heighten your zest, simply look at what interests and motivates you. What goals do you wish to pursue? What do you enjoy doing most? What are the things or people that give meaning to your life?

3. Take control of your behaviors through ego alignment.

Acting in accordance with our thoughts rather than our impulses is key to remaining true to the values that will lead us to fulfillment.

Often, our impulses are based on desires that do not necessarily have our best interests at their core. Thus, it is important to identify the elements in our psychology that can help us stay in control.

“Ego-alignment describes the relationship between an individual’s ability to know what they should do in certain situations versus actually performing the ‘correct’ action,” explains psychologist Michael Robinson from North Dakota State University.

As a result of living in alignment with their values, ego-aligned individuals tend to live better and less-conflicted lives—a key factor of fulfillment.

So, the next time you are faced with an important decision, look to approach the problem from a more ego-aligned perspective. Ask yourself if your decision is aligned with your values? If yes, then go forth. However, if it represents something else–perhaps an expectation of what you ‘should’ do or an impulsive tendency–then it’s probably better to choose a different course of action.

Read the full article here!

Reflection:

What are some of the things that make you feel more fulfilled?

#Life #Gratitude #Zest #Ego #EmotionalRegulation