The Journey to Fulfillment

When You Get Your Dream Job

It was one of the most exciting days of my life. Riding the elevator up to the television newsroom where I had recently landed a job, I thought about how incredibly happy I was. Since I was a child I had dreamed of being on television as well as being a writer. I had graduated from college with a degree in Theater. Now I had a job as a news anchor! I was bursting with joy. 

When the Glow Fades

Three years later, it was time to move on. Why? While the job was exciting, it wasn’t fulfilling for me. It had been fun, but it lacked a greater purpose. I loved the thrill of the on-camera work. I enjoyed the fast pace of writing news stories on a daily deadline. I had learned to edit video and developed valuable voice-over skills. The money was good, too! What had happened? My vision for my life, and my sense of mission, was changing. Some people find a great sense of mission in journalism, but television news wasn’t doing that for me. Without a greater sense of purpose and meaning, I didn’t find the work fulfilling. When the excitement of fulfilling my own ambition faded, I no longer had a reason to be there.  It was time to pursue something different.

What is fulfillment, anyway?

Look at the word “fulfillment.” It means having an inward sense of being filled full! It also implies that we start from a place that needs filling. I like to think of that empty space as potential. We all have the potential to make a meaningful difference in the world. As we explore those possibilities and begin to have a positive impact, we experience a sense of personal fulfillment.

How do we find fulfillment?

The journey toward personal fulfillment is just that: a journey. What kind of work brings you a sense of meaning and significance will probably change over time. It always begins, however, with your values - what matters most to you? What do you care passionately about? Start from there. Our greatest fulfillment comes in doing meaningful work with people we care about. I left television news and went to work in a rough, politically volatile area of the Middle East to teach young people who wanted something more for their lives. You might leave teaching to pursue a career in television news! It all depends on what you care deeply about, and how you want to use that to make a positive impact on the world.

At LDI, we believe that you have what it takes to succeed and find fulfillment in every area of your life.  Are you interested in unlocking more of your potential? Check out our time management course here or our leadership training courses here or contact us here.