I hear fulfillment and happiness used interchangeably in everyday conversation. The right to “happiness” is enshrined in the US Constitution by the founders. People talk about satisfaction, fulfillment, success, and emotions in terms of happiness, often less so in terms of fulfillment. So, what’s the difference, if any?
Happiness can be defined as an enduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions, but also of a sense that one’s life is meaningful and valued. Happiness energizes us and is a highly sought after state of being. (Lyubomirsky, 2001).
Happiness is defined differently depending on who you ask. Some people define happiness as a positive emotional experience. More than simply positive mood, happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life, one with a sense of meaning and deep contentment. (Psychology Today, 2020)
Finally, n. an emotion of joy, gladness, satisfaction, and well-being. – happy adj. (American Psychology Association, 2018)
Fulfillment is a bit different; by definition a noun, the actual or felt satisfaction of needs and desires, or the attainment of aspirations. See also wish fulfillment. —fulfill verb.. (American Psychology Association, 2018).
The definition of self-fulfillment is the ability of a person to make themselves happy by meeting their personal goals. This concept is also known as self-actualization or self-realization. Self-fulfillment is a personal concept that is different for each individual. Key components to fulfillment (Psychology Today) are: the building blocks of a fulfilled life including resources (e.g., support), personal characteristics (e.g., curiosity), and life quality; cognitive and emotional evaluations including being free of regret, achieving self-development and other important goals, and leaving a legacy; and sources of fulfillment including relationships, occupation, savoring life, recreational activities, and spirituality.
Looking further into fulfillment, the following benchmarks exist for the United States,
- Generally 50% of life’s outcomes are due to our genetics, 10% to life’s circumstances, leaving 40% for individual intentional endeavors to have effect (Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley).
- As another statement of the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, think of the Fulfillment Curve is an upside down U graduating on the left from “survival” to “comfort” to “luxury”, and ultimately to a condition of “enough” at the peak of the curve. Beyond “enough” and to the right of the curve lies the diminishing point of returns characterized by “overindulgence and extravagance”, where money has much less significance to our well being.
- Consequently, our effective endeavors for fulfillment are designed to reach “enough” even as goals change and life happens to and around us.
Furthermore,
- the death of a spouse decreases satisfaction by half (50%), an incident of unemployment decreases satisfaction by 45%, while marriage raises satisfaction by only 10% (Lumon Learning).
- Overall satisfaction is greatest among 16-22 year olds and 60-70 year olds (Brookings Institute, World Economic Forum).
- Positive experiences include a promotion, a new i-toy, a vacation, a new car, and one’s children and friends.
- Negative experiences include comparing oneself to one’s neighbors, and for a fight, a loss, playing catch up, longer work hours, old age, depression, and disease.
- Income and satisfaction are positively correlated until “enough” is achieved, especially early on when money raises and accelerates “survival” conditions to “enough”. This is no surprise, right?
Fulfillment drivers in USA are family, giving, success, and spirituality in order of priority, while the barriers to fulfillment are money, time, anxiety, and work, also in order of priority (Abbott Global Study). Maximizing the drivers and reducing the barriers are key to living the good life. Additional fulfillment obstacles are self doubt and fear, external expectations and societal pressures, setbacks and failures, lack of clarity and direction, and balancing responsibilities and personal goals (Fastercapital.com).
Top 10 Most Frequently Mentioned Words in Free Descriptions of an Ideal Life
| Priority | USA | India | Japan | Angola |
| 1 | Job/work | Family | Job/work | Family |
| 2 | Family | Happy/happiness | Self | Healthy |
| 3 | Money | Job/work | Marriage | Stable |
| 4 | Time | Money | Family | Job |
| 5 | Able | Peace/peaceful | Person | God |
| 6 | Children/kids | People | Children | Me |
| 7 | Healthy/health | Healthy/health | Favorite | Happiness |
| 8 | Having | Time | Time | People |
| 9 | Love | Needs | Age | Love |
| 10 | Happy | Children/kids | Hobby | Parent |
An excerpt from A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning, Shigehuiro Oishi, UVA, and Erin C. Westgate, UF
So, in the interest of the personal fulfillment we seek, we search for the right strategies, tools, and tactics to assume control of our lives. We want our investments in these to deliver effectively and without fail. We recognize that left to chance one is ill equipped to achieve and live the life of their dreams. So who, what, and how can investments in one self be identified and brought to bear? In the areas of self help and psychology there are lots of authoritative point solutions to help augment your education, training, mindset, and growth; however, few sources offer comprehensive integrated processes that provide effective vision, action, and control.
Lifelong Fulfillment (LLF) is primarily focused on self fulfillment in all its dimensions, the results of which often deliver happiness as a byproduct, and which serves as a bulwark against circumstance, life’s inevitable difficulties, and loss of personal control and self determination. LLF doesn’t rely on fate but upon what one does on one’s own behalf. Given the above definitions, you can certainly appreciate the overlaps in the definitions and understand the confusion amongst professionals and the public over the two conditions of happiness and fulfillment. Lifelong Fulfillment empowers individuals to achieve self actualization (the pinnacle of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), and compliments best in class point solutions to populate your toolkit. We show you the way, the tools, and the processes to achieve lifelong satisfaction.
Go to www.lifelongfulfillment.org for the eBook, FAQs, Resources, and to subscribe to The Fulfillment Chronicles.