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What makes you fulfilled?

  • 12-07-2009 7:39pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭


    I am going through a phase where I feel unfulfilled in my life. My job is steady but boring and pretty soul-less. I have a good partner and friends but I wonder is there more? I dont really know where to start to feel fulfilled...

    What do you do to make your life worthy?


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,662 ✭✭✭Trinity


    I dont recall ever feeling fulfilled tbh

    I'm one of these people that will never be happy (been told by several people) but i do get a warm fuzzy feeling helping others and doing charity and stuff but i think a lot of people are always left feeling they are missing something or wondering "is this it?" :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    follow your dream. if you dont know what your dream is think about things you always wanted to try. make a list and see which is do-able.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 634 ✭✭✭nomorebadtown


    SarahSassy wrote: »
    I am going through a phase where I feel unfulfilled in my life. My job is steady but boring and pretty soul-less. I have a good partner and friends but I wonder is there more? I dont really know where to start to feel fulfilled...

    What do you do to make your life worthy?

    This may just be the little peice of emptiness inside all of us, its a natural and beautiful wistfulness which makes us who we are. I fear the day I feel totally fulfilled. Melancholy is not the devil.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    Having children is not the be all and end all of everything but it does give meaning to many people lives . Watching them grow and develop can be rewarding , fullfilling in it's own way . But I suspect these recessionary times will put lots of people off having kids to .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,954 ✭✭✭✭Larianne


    follow your dream. if you dont know what your dream is think about things you always wanted to try. make a list and see which is do-able.

    Definitely believe in this!! Anything is possible if you believe it! Sounds cheezy but it's true. Never just settle for anything. Follow your dream(s). Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work but you can do it. Can also involve risks but life is short and can get pretty boring if you go the safe route all the time.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 844 ✭✭✭allabouteve


    Doing/giving/being of use to others in need is the most personally rewarding feeling you can have.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Jules


    pirateshampoo...

    please read the charter before posting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Jules


    framkiestylee. if you have nothing of worth to post, don't. Consider yourself warned.

    Jules


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    Latchy wrote: »
    Having children is not the be all and end all of everything but it does give meaning to many people lives . Watching them grow and develop can be rewarding , fullfilling in it's own way . But I suspect these recessionary times will put lots of people off having kids to .

    its kind of a strange thing. children can make peoples lives better. those children will become adults and begin to question themselves and where they are headed in life and than bang(bang bang bang boom)!that adult has a kid and now has a purpose in 'life'


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,613 ✭✭✭✭Clare Bear


    Jammy cow that I am but I've never felt more fulfilled. I'm doing a job I'm in love with working with animals, have a wonderful boyfriend and am happy and healthy. That's all I want in life. Doing something I love definitely makes a huge difference, I doubt I'd be very fulfilled in life if I was bored in my job either. More travelling in the future hopefully would fill a little adventure void but other than that at this moment in time I'm happy. Kids and all that maybe in time too but for now it's not for me.

    It's not always an option to follow your dream. There's bills to be paid, responsibilities etc but maybe try and find out what other things can make you happy. You'd be surprised how much helping out a charity or finding a new hobby would add to your life. I think if I found myself unhappy in my job, bored in my relationship and just bored with life in general I'd definitely head off travelling the world on my own. It's a fantasy and may never happen if things continue to go well for me but if it all went tits up I'd be gone in a shot, definitely.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    SarahSassy wrote: »
    I am going through a phase where I feel unfulfilled in my life. My job is steady but boring and pretty soul-less. I have a good partner and friends but I wonder is there more? I dont really know where to start to feel fulfilled...

    What do you do to make your life worthy?

    I feel like that nearly everyday..
    I hate it, I don't particularly enjoy the daly grind life 9 to 5 city job doing the same damm thing every day, day in day out for 40 years on the same buss seeing the same people talking about the same sh!t, and what particulariy annoys me is people, preach there happiness as an all round happiness which is pretty annoying at times:... But i realize some people may enjoy and do feel fulfilled... which is fair enough..

    When do I feel fulfilled? getting on plane with no idea where, I'm going and jumping straight in at the deep end... and seeing what surprise's lay in wait..

    but i do feel good when I know ive helped some one or if ive cooked a really tasty meal


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    its kind of a strange thing. children can make peoples lives better. those children will become adults and begin to question themselves and where they are headed in life and than bang(bang bang bang boom)!that adult has a kid and now has a purpose in 'life'
    Some people might equate my discription as being the norm ,the expected ,the sterotype forgetting that it is a special time in most peoples lifes to ,specialy if at the birth .So yes it is the natural expctation and order of things but we can sueeze a lot of other stuff in before ,between and after to .

    I like other poster said , the idea of just heading out to airport and jumping on a plane to ...anywere and waiting for the unexpected to happen .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,031 ✭✭✭Lockstep




    You can be what you want to be.
    You can be whatever you see.
    Whatever in this world makes you happy.
    Don't listen to them listen to me.

    I don't care whatever you do,
    I just care that you'll be true.
    If you want to be a cowboy, then that's what you do.
    There's a horse somewhere waiting for you.

    You can be what you want to be.
    You can be whatever you see.
    Whatever in this world makes you happy.
    Don't listen to them listen to me.

    Do you believe in an unlived life?
    Self-fulfillment, not self gratification's strife.
    Well, you can change and time will tell.
    You think you're in heaven, but you're living in Hell.

    You can be what you want to be.
    You can be whatever you see.
    Whatever in this world makes you happy.
    Don't listen to them listen to me.

    If you can't take another day trapped in chastisation or disapproval's fray,
    then just go my dear and believe you me, its not so frightening to be free.

    You can be what you want to be.
    You can be whatever you see.
    Whatever in this world makes you happy.
    Don't listen to them listen to me.
    You can be what you want to be.
    You can be what ever you see.
    Whatever in this world makes you happy.
    Don't listen to them listen to me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,594 ✭✭✭Maddison


    I am kind of in the same position myself, Im 26 my job bores the living daylights out of me, I have a son,house & longterm relationship. Yes I get fulfillment from seeing my son grow & develop but thats more my duty as a mother. I do enjoy sitting down with elderly ladies/gents and just talking to them & making them laugh.
    There is a lady who is Id say in her 90s that comes into the hotel where I work with her son(she has alzeimhers sp??) but one day she popped in on her own & was wearing just slippers & a housecoat(she had walked out of the nursing home)
    So I sat with her and had another staff member ring the local Gardai as we didnt have her sons number, she was telling me all about her youth(in the present tense) but she had such a huge smile on her face...so I just sat there holding her hand(it was freezing) But I really enjoyed it.
    There are so many elderly people in homes that have relatives that dont bother to visit and Im sure that there are voluntary prgrammes where you can kind of ''adopt a gran/grandad' so to speak....and the stories our elders can tell us can also be very rewarding.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,613 ✭✭✭✭Clare Bear


    Maddison wrote: »
    I am kind of in the same position myself, Im 26 my job bores the living daylights out of me, I have a son,house & longterm relationship. Yes I get fulfillment from seeing my son grow & develop but thats more my duty as a mother. I do enjoy sitting down with elderly ladies/gents and just talking to them & making them laugh.
    There is a lady who is Id say in her 90s that comes into the hotel where I work with her son(she has alzeimhers sp??) but one day she popped in on her own & was wearing just slippers & a housecoat(she had walked out of the nursing home)
    So I sat with her and had another staff member ring the local Gardai as we didnt have her sons number, she was telling me all about her youth(in the present tense) but she had such a huge smile on her face...so I just sat there holding her hand(it was freezing) But I really enjoyed it.
    There are so many elderly people in homes that have relatives that dont bother to visit and Im sure that there are voluntary prgrammes where you can kind of ''adopt a gran/grandad' so to speak....and the stories our elders can tell us can also be very rewarding.

    I did that last year, helped out with elderly people at home on their own, visiting them and while it was great, it got a bit much for me in the end. It really got to me, just not cut out for it I suppose, there's some sad cases. But I know exactly what you mean, it feels great to just sit there and listen to them. I have an elderly neighbour like that, any time he sees me he comes out for a chat, I always give him my time no matter how much of a rush I'm in. Without sounding too much of a goody two shoes I'd definitely recommend something like helping out in a nursing home if you're strong enough for it, it's very rewarding. Or maybe a charity that would be close to your heart, everyone has something that they feel strong about surely.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    Latchy wrote: »

    I like other poster said , the idea of just heading out to airport and jumping on a plane to ...anywere and waiting for the unexpected to happen .
    meet a tall dark handsome stranger, settle down and have kids and watch them grow up?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    meet a tall dark handsome stranger, settle down and have kids and watch them grow up?
    That what you want ???? go for it so


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    after my life cycle adult has child that becomes adult that has child post i went on a short writting spree

    humans are like a quick evolving virus that is headed towards destroying its only host
    mother earth that gives us the most, forgotten beneath concrete canals and concrete tress
    leaves die and fall to the ground recycled for the next generation
    people pass on passing by the past too fast to see the future that comes to quickly to change
    rearrange the furniture but the house stays the same, not a home but a throne for mass produced self satisfying emotions,
    as real as the image on your computer screen, flashing dots, flashing numbers, thru the same air we breath, but do we really need
    broadcasts to make us feel, bow down and kneel to false gods and profits
    money changes hands but only from left to right


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 235 ✭✭enry


    sounds like you have to much time on you hands. my advise is to work and work and work and it you have some time at the end of the day learn something, read a book. dont give yourself time to feel unfulfilled.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,085 ✭✭✭Xiney


    Gig Bee, kumate_champ07 & ronrar, you were not special enough to be exempt from Jules' warning.

    Banned for 7 days.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,016 ✭✭✭Blush_01


    enry wrote: »
    sounds like you have to much time on you hands. my advise is to work and work and work and it you have some time at the end of the day learn something, read a book. dont give yourself time to feel unfulfilled.

    I work hard at what I do - granted it's 8:30 - 5 (rarely leave at 5, but you know what I mean) and I feel it's pointless, I'm not getting anywhere with it, and I don't even like what I'm doing. I've read in excess of 30 books this year - sorry, but your advice has fairly narrow applications. I've never felt less fulfilled in my life. Ever. It's an awful thing to say at 24, but I feel totally mired.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,658 ✭✭✭✭The Sweeper


    Get a hobby. Seriously. These days to many young, single people do nothing but work, watch the box and sleep - and go to the gym if they feel guilty enough. If you do nothing productive with your spare time, you will default to spending it waiting to go back to work. Think of something you have always wanted to do, or learn, and then look into ways of taking it up as a hobby.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,085 ✭✭✭Xiney


    I've deleted some off topic/inappropriate posts from this thread - It's all tidy now if anyone messes it up again Xiney is going to be very angry :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,931 ✭✭✭togster


    I used to feel unfullfilled. But not anymore.

    The answer lies inside each of us. No amount of holidays/hobbies/books or people will help you find what you are looking for.

    I am 26. Went to schools, had hobbies that i was great at, was good at school, lots of girlfriends, went to college, fell in love and then out of love, got a job, fell in love and then out of love. I travelled. I always thought that if i got this or that or went there i would feel what it is that i was looking for.
    I then realised that the answer is only found in yourself. How can you find yourself in external things?

    OP most people feel the way you do, to some extent but realise you have the power to feel how you want to. Best of luck.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭shivvyban


    My problem is I'm extremely negative. The happiest and nicest things can happen to me and I'll always find something wrong with them. Its something I just need to get over. I know its the wrong way of looking at things but I can't help it.

    I guess I get fulfillment from writing. I love when an idea hits me and I just can't wait to put pen to paper and see where it goes from there. It had been a long long time since that last hit me until Friday. I was in work, started writing and now I can't stop. It mightn't be worth anything but when I look back and see all the different stories and world's I've created I feel like nothing can go wrong. :o


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 13,425 ✭✭✭✭Ginny


    Latchy wrote: »
    But I suspect these recessionary times will put lots of people off having kids to .
    You'd think, wouldn't you? But right now everyone i know and her sisters are pregnant..:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭neuro-praxis


    Honestly? My faith in God, and living a life rich with relationships.

    I'm on the dole thanks to the big R, and I think I might be happier than I've ever been. :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 235 ✭✭enry


    Blush_01 wrote: »
    I work hard at what I do - granted it's 8:30 - 5 (rarely leave at 5, but you know what I mean) and I feel it's pointless, I'm not getting anywhere with it, and I don't even like what I'm doing. I've read in excess of 30 books this year - sorry, but your advice has fairly narrow applications. I've never felt less fulfilled in my life. Ever. It's an awful thing to say at 24, but I feel totally mired.

    I broke up with a girl years ago I was pretty p1ssed off with things for a while. So I went on holidays I went to South Africa (a few months). Best thing I ever did, only place I felt really alive and I’ve been to a lot of places.

    Take a holiday guess where I’d suggest you go. When you come back you might see things differently


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,025 ✭✭✭d'Oracle


    What is fulfilled?

    It sounds pretty horrible to me.
    I am at some existential point where my life has met all my expectations and I am perfectly satisfied with my Job, life, family, relationships etc.

    Nonsense.

    2 things.

    1) Stop looking for fulfillment. Its a convolution of all the images and information thrown in your face everyday by the mass media.
    Stop looking for an end to what you are suffering and you are on the way to not suffering from it.

    2) Do Stuff. Seriously. Nobody does stuff these days.
    Sitting on the internet is not doing stuff, TV is the enemy of stuff.
    Going to the Gym can be stuff, but is often not stuff because people do intensly boring routines.

    Do actual stuff. Find something to do, maybe a group of people who also do it. The posters who complained about their job being boring, Im sorry. Its not a great way to feel. But you can make your time off less boring by doing quality interesting stuff.

    People who sit and say they are fulfilled, aren't. They either spend loads of time doing stuff and trying to get stuff done, or improve on previous stuff or they are lying toerags who would feel the same way as you if they had a speck of ambition.

    Should I write a self-help book?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    fulfillment - a feeling of satisfaction at having achieved your desires

    Sounds interesting, but the clue is in the second word "feeling". Feelings change. You do one thing that brings you that feeling, then you think of something else that you haven't done and the feeling dimishes as one goal is replaced with another.

    As an example, last week i had a photo shoot. I went and did it and the photos were very nice. I felt fulfilled. Then I got home and the real work began, i had to take those images from straight photos into something more. I did one up and i was happy with it. I once again felt fulfilled. The follow day I woke up with another goal, to write a song from start to finish. I did this too and once again i felt happy with my work...until today went i woke up with a different goal.

    When seeking any emotion, it is important to remember that emotions can be fleeting. There will always be something there.

    I would hate it if i could so something and feel endlessly "happy". For me, there is nothing like taking a really nice photo, producing a solid piece of art, writing a good song etc etc etc...i like the little 5cc's of Happiness that comes with each little goal acheived.

    I think "fulfillment" is being able to look at a decent period of time and realise that it was filled with many moments of Happiness.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,713 ✭✭✭✭Novella


    Dragan wrote: »
    I think "fulfillment" is being able to look at a decent period of time and realise that it was filled with many moments of Happiness.

    +1 :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    Ginny wrote: »
    You'd think, wouldn't you? But right now everyone i know and her sisters are pregnant..:D
    Women, so selfish at times ....:D


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Honestly the most time its spending time with kids (be it my niece, godson or Alex)
    My mother used to mind her as baby and she's now 5 and she's like a little sister to me and never fails to be a source of amusement and I get great craic at seeing her outlook on life

    On my flexi days I also catch up with my nan and aunties
    Spending time with my mates and going on nights out is something I try to do once a week at least
    I try to get some quality time with the OH also (can't be leaving him out:D)
    with work, studying, housework and spending time on me I am pretty busy

    I have my weekly/monthly goals/crap I want to get done and if I ever find myself without something to do I just refer to it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    For me personally, I like having things to look forward to... So when life feels dull and I have nothing exciting planned, I usually book myself a holiday...


    I wouldnt say it fulfills me, but it gives me something to plan for!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭Red Hand


    Dragan wrote: »
    fulfillment - a feeling of satisfaction at having achieved your desires

    Sounds interesting, but the clue is in the second word "feeling". Feelings change. You do one thing that brings you that feeling, then you think of something else that you haven't done and the feeling dimishes as one goal is replaced with another.

    As an example, last week i had a photo shoot. I went and did it and the photos were very nice. I felt fulfilled. Then I got home and the real work began, i had to take those images from straight photos into something more. I did one up and i was happy with it. I once again felt fulfilled. The follow day I woke up with another goal, to write a song from start to finish. I did this too and once again i felt happy with my work...until today went i woke up with a different goal.

    When seeking any emotion, it is important to remember that emotions can be fleeting. There will always be something there.

    I would hate it if i could so something and feel endlessly "happy". For me, there is nothing like taking a really nice photo, producing a solid piece of art, writing a good song etc etc etc...i like the little 5cc's of Happiness that comes with each little goal acheived.

    I think "fulfillment" is being able to look at a decent period of time and realise that it was filled with many moments of Happiness.

    I like your descriptions, but even still, do you ever think your feelings of fulfillment when achieving the goals you describe above, are in themselves diminished a little when you know that all you are doing is chasing some hormone release? Or that you feel that the goals are a bit pointless in themselves? (I'm projecting, as you may guess:pac:)

    "Here I am hiking/doing a photoshoot/playing soccor/(whatever hobby), and I'm happy cause I've set myself a goal and am achieving it. Mr Brain/Gland is releasing hormones now as a treat for achieving the goal I've set myself. Tomorrow I will set myself another goal for an appropriate and timely glandular release. If I do not get my glandular release, then what is the point? If I do get my glandular release treat, then equally....what is the point?":pac:

    Don't know where I'm going with this post, but to paraphrase Mrs Doyle from Father Ted:

    Mrs Doyle-"Football! Football! Football! What you men see in it, I don't know! A load of men kicking a bit of leather around a field! Tscha! I don't know... you men. The things you think are great fun! Like going to the films. A load of men sitting around looking at films. And rollercoasters! A load of men in a big rollercoaster going up and down on a metal track. And fishing! A load of men fishing! And sailing! A load of men in a boat, floating about in the water! And shouting! A load of men going around shouting! ":pac:

    To put that quote into practise, this eveing I went for a walk around a large lake, and saw some members of Homo Sapiens engaging in a non survival related goal orientated activity. They proceeded to drive up to a slip ramp, unload their canoes, boarded the said canoes on the lake, push off and then over a period of two hours paddled across the lake and then circled close to the water's edge, where they chatted for a bit. Then the canoes were removed from the water, put back on top of the cars, and they drove off, goal accomplished and hormones released. Tired no doubt and ready for the leaba.

    Whereas I kept track of their progress by first walking around the lake, and then climbing through a nearby forest to the top of the hill where I spied their departure. Goal accomplished and hormones released, I hiked back to my car and I too departed.:pac:

    How do you accomplish something without remembering that it's ultimately pointless? Is it just the body/mind's way of burning off excess mental/physical energy so that you will be sharp enough to catch food again in the future and will reproduce? If one reproduces, then the pointless hormone chasing continues....and worse, you are aware of it.:pac:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭Plug-me-in


    I think for the moment, I do feel fulfilled. But like the Duchess said, feelings change, give me a few months, I might change an opinin, or my course in life might be shaken up, and I could easily feel less so... Plus, I am only 19, what teenager is supposed to feel anything other than a bit of uncertainty and maybe a hangover or two?


    But, I do know, that any time I feel like I might be heading in the wrong direction, I think of everything I have going for me. And everyone else has too, life is always worthwhile when LC too.


    For me, it's spending hours with my horses, or my dogs, just completely unwinding, away from people, (particularly if others have been catalysts for my down feelings!) this really makes me realise that they give me back the attention ten fold.


    I'm also happy with where I am which I'm sure helps, studying medicine, hopefully with a career as a doctor in the future, amazing boyfriend, and family and friends. And a month travelling Europe in August!


    It's up to us to make our own life worthwhile, find our own fulfilment!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 844 ✭✭✭allabouteve


    d'Oracle wrote: »
    What is fulfilled?

    Different things to different people, I'd think. To some fulfilled is a feeling they get when they have something to look forward to, or an end to a long term project is in sight. To others it might be the culmination of dreaming and planning in terms of their personal life.
    It sounds pretty horrible to me.
    I am at some existential point where my life has met all my expectations and I am perfectly satisfied with my Job, life, family, relationships etc.

    Nonsense.
    That is never going to happen anyone. Things might reach a point where you're mostly happy with everything though. Thats close enough.
    2 things.

    1) Stop looking for fulfillment. Its a convolution of all the images and information thrown in your face everyday by the mass media.
    Stop looking for an end to what you are suffering and you are on the way to not suffering from it.
    With respect, bull****. ALWAYS look for fulfillment. To strive is to achieve and work towards, don't do that and you're in a rut.
    2) Do Stuff. Seriously. Nobody does stuff these days.
    Sitting on the internet is not doing stuff, TV is the enemy of stuff.
    Going to the Gym can be stuff, but is often not stuff because people do intensly boring routines.
    People do stuff. It might not be stuff you hold in high regard, but other people mightn't hold your stuff up as particularly worthwhile either.
    Do actual stuff. Find something to do, maybe a group of people who also do it. The posters who complained about their job being boring, Im sorry. Its not a great way to feel. But you can make your time off less boring by doing quality interesting stuff.
    Yea, people who are bored need fun hobbies/pastimes. Its not news.
    People who sit and say they are fulfilled, aren't.
    Not really for you to judge, is it?
    They either spend loads of time doing stuff and trying to get stuff done, or improve on previous stuff or they are lying toerags who would feel the same way as you if they had a speck of ambition.
    Again, not your call. And a bit harsh.
    Should I write a self-help book?

    I think the market in faux-homespun wisdom has been cornered by Dr. Phil and Oprah. I wouldn't bother.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    How do you accomplish something without remembering that it's ultimately pointless? Is it just the body/mind's way of burning off excess mental/physical energy so that you will be sharp enough to catch food again in the future and will reproduce? If one reproduces, then the pointless hormone chasing continues....and worse, you are aware of it.:pac:

    Well ultimately everything is pointless, on a long enough time line.

    This is assuming however your mind is in the future, if your mind is in the NOW, then it's ALL about the hormones.:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭Crumble Froo


    ive a few things that help me feel satisfied and fulfilled in life. im not saying i go through every day like a dream, hell no, but there are plenty of times and days that i can just sit back or take a moment and think '****, this is what it's all about'.

    i think the first thing i do is surfing... just being in the ocean, nature all around, and the peace and simultaneous rush that come with catching a wave... nothing like it.
    quite enjoy skating too, there's just something great about gliding instead of walking :P have recently taken it up and am attempting to learn to do more than just get from a to b on the thing, so it's great fun challenging myself and learning something new while getting exercise -

    exercise! fresh air! man, it does wonders for the soul. even just walking, particularly around nature, even if it's just a park/river/stream, it's good to be around nature.

    workwise, i dont do a lot of it for starts :P
    i work mon-wed, 20hrs a week, in a community clinic that deals specifically with people with hep c. a substantial amount of our clients would not go to another service if we werent there, and that fact, on top of daily interactions and that, makes me proud to be a part of this service and the work i do feels quite worthwhile.

    i work with kids now and then too, and there is something great about being around them (most of the time), work is fun.

    apart from that, i just follow my hobbies as much as i can - playing an instrument, going to gigs, (ok, i love music) and jamming with freinds and learning/writing songs are all quite therapeutic for me.

    i have a great partner, and great friends, but honestly, i don't feel that those alone would be enough for me. i need to indulge in my passions and explore my own abilities and to create, express through them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,025 ✭✭✭d'Oracle


    Different things to different people, I'd think. To some fulfilled is a feeling they get when they have something to look forward to, or an end to a long term project is in sight. To others it might be the culmination of dreaming and planning in terms of their personal life.
    That is never going to happen anyone. Things might reach a point where you're mostly happy with everything though. Thats close enough.

    With respect, bull****. ALWAYS look for fulfillment. To strive is to achieve and work towards, don't do that and you're in a rut.
    People do stuff. It might not be stuff you hold in high regard, but other people mightn't hold your stuff up as particularly worthwhile either.

    I think you need to work on your sense of humour.

    But as you took the care and attention to break my semi-serious post into little bits to issue your sternly thought out rebuttal, I should respond.

    Firstly, very little in that post is very much not "with respect"

    If you can't define something, you can't strive for it.

    Onwards, there is a very real problem with people these days regarding the preception of fulfilment. People striving for some undefined end state where they are happy. To this end, many go to school, grow up, have a few relationships, get jobs, start families. Always looking for that point where they have done this and are happy with it. The result for many of these people (some who have posted in this thread) is that they end up working coming home and doing nothing of real value with their spare time, stagnating and wondering why there is no fulfillment.

    Its not do do with what I regard, in fact its pretty arrogant of you to suggest so, being that you are assuming you have some level of awareness of where I am coming from that others won't. The message is to people who feel "unfulfilled", that they should do more. Because people do actually do increasing less and less as the years go on. The relentless march of convenience and all that. If that is offensive to you, there is nothing at all that I can say, or would want to.

    I have been through some serious stagnation, but fulfilment has never been something I craved. The only thing I could ever reconcile with fulfilment is the satisfaction of optimum output. In sport, in intellectual, playing music etc. When striving to achieve which would be halffillment if anything,

    Frankly the grain of truth in the stop looking for an end is that if you focus on the "fulfilment" you cannot ever be happy. If you abandon the aim of to be at some undefined fantasy state and just concentrate on enjoying what you are doing (and doing something that is enjoyable). The journey being the focus, not the end. Or if I prefer, the filling rather than the fulfillment.

    Its not me judging at all and its not remotely harsh and if you dont get your back up and think for a bit you might get it. In my opinion people who say they have fulfillment in their lives don't. They are either lying or just keeping busy. Which I suppose could be defined as fulfillment, depending on how you view it, but I wouldnt refer to it as that. Just feeling better.

    And I can assure you, Oprah and Dr. Phil do not own the market on Faux-homespun wisdom.
    (Thanks for massacring the joke though. Im sure you thought it was really snappy)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭neuro-praxis


    I think I understand what you're saying d'Oracle. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your point could be summed up as: Live in the now, not in some what might be of the future.

    And I agree with you. However I do feel pretty fulfilled with my life. Not because I have achieved everything I want (I haven't), but because I am really enjoying the journey!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,025 ✭✭✭d'Oracle


    I think I understand what you're saying d'Oracle. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your point could be summed up as: Live in the now, not in some what might be of the future.

    And I agree with you. However I do feel pretty fulfilled with my life. Not because I have achieved everything I want (I haven't), but because I am really enjoying the journey!

    Awesome.

    I suppose my problem is more with the word than anything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭cuckoo


    And I agree with you. However I do feel pretty fulfilled with my life. Not because I have achieved everything I want (I haven't), but because I am really enjoying the journey!

    +1, although sometimes the journey has been a little rocky. The bumps make me appreciate the smooth bits a lot more.

    Anyway, away from metaphors! I like to make things, learning new crafts and skills and applying them is something I find very satisfying - even if it's something as simple as the best way to sew on a button. I look at something I've made and find it fulfilling.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 235 ✭✭enry


    Plug-me-in wrote: »
    I think for the moment, I do feel fulfilled. But like the Duchess said, feelings change, give me a few months, I might change an opinin, or my course in life might be shaken up, and I could easily feel less so... Plus, I am only 19, what teenager is supposed to feel anything other than a bit of uncertainty and maybe a hangover or two?


    But, I do know, that any time I feel like I might be heading in the wrong direction, I think of everything I have going for me. And everyone else has too, life is always worthwhile when LC too.


    For me, it's spending hours with my horses, or my dogs, just completely unwinding, away from people, (particularly if others have been catalysts for my down feelings!) this really makes me realise that they give me back the attention ten fold.


    I'm also happy with where I am which I'm sure helps, studying medicine, hopefully with a career as a doctor in the future, amazing boyfriend, and family and friends. And a month travelling Europe in August!


    It's up to us to make our own life worthwhile, find our own fulfilment!

    is it difficult to find fulfilment if you or your family have loads of money?


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