Fulfillment

Purposeful living can be hard to attain in this day and age. We are constantly bombarded with intrusions on our attentions; signposts that point us down a multitude of avenues that promise some form of fulfillment. We can skitter across our day chasing fulfillment down all these avenues and wind up back at home at the end of the day still feeling empty and disappointed, why is that? Why do we feel so cheated when our pursuit of money and so-called necessities fails to meet up to its promises? Where is the fulfillment and purpose in that? What are we doing with our time and to what purpose?

The primary purpose of man is to attain fulfillment in life and share the benefit of this accomplishment with all humanity. A pretty high minded goal, yes. Somewhat idealistic? Yes, totally! Achievable? Yes, but not without real effort and steadfast determination.

First we need to determine where we can find this elusive destination called Fulfillment. Is it on top of a huge bank account? Is it living in a big house in an exclusive neighborhood? Is it having a job with power and prestige? Is it simply sitting in front of a big plate of spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, and ice cream for dessert? What do we need to acquire that can give us lasting fulfillment? Is it the newest and fastest Internet service, cell phone, or laptop computer? All these things are temporary and fleeting. While they may be enjoyable, they all will pass in time and leave us back at square one. Unfulfilled.

We sense satisfaction the most when an experience effects us emotionally or spiritually. Fulfillment resides within us. It is a state of mind. It requires our recognition of its existence. We are programmed by our physical existence to recognize material things and experiences to be the source of lasting satisfaction, yet everything material is in a cyclic process of birth, life, death, and renewal; to be enjoyed for only periods of time. We will only experience lasting fulfillment from a nurtured and balanced, positive state of mind (something we can't see and touch, but believe exists). This is no small feat. It is a life-long endeavour.

To achieve our goal requires patient yet persistent concentration on what lies within us. Are we possessing happy, positive responses to life or waxing to the negative, sorrowful. Recognizing these reactions we need to employ control and mindfulness to the spirit which we gravitate towards. If we focus on the negative we will deny the growth of its opposite. Regardless of the circumstance, we create for ourselves a specific impression of any experience- good or bad. I say "It's all for Good!" This way we're always making steps towards the accomplishment of this positive, fulfilling goal.