Finding Self-Fulfillment
Recently, much has been written about how to find self-fulfillment, which suggests that many people are looking for ways to increase their life satisfaction. These formulas may provide a useful starting point for some but they are usually self-limiting. What many of these prescriptions overlook is that self-fulfillment is not a destiny to be reached but an experience to be had as we journey through life. It is part of our life process not an endpoint in itself. There are things we can do however, to increase the frequency with which we feel satisfied.
One of the most valuable things we can do to find greater self-fulfillment is to begin the process of thoughtful introspection; looking intently at who we are and in particular, at the parts of the Self we have dismissed. Usually these are the parts we have ignored or repressed because we believe they are unacceptable. By reintegrating into our self-concept these discarded parts, our identity expands and we become more receptive to new experiences both within the psyche and out in the world that offer fulfillment. Through this process we also soften our judgments of ourselves and increase our self-acceptance, which leads to greater contentment and fulfillment.
To start, we need to make a conscious decision to begin to observe all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions with compassion. What we usually discover as a result of this decision is that our discarded qualities are human qualities. In addition, we often learn that we have unrealized positive qualities which are a new source of vitality in our lives.
Using introspection to integrate into the psyche previously discarded parts is a lifelong process. Yet it is a means to ensure that we are maximizing our potential, which naturally leads to greater self-fulfillment.
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