Achievement vs. Fulfillment

When you begin to delve into the world of intentional living, it isn’t long before you stumble across someone telling you to Do What You Love. Find your passion and make it your work because, if you love it, it won’t seem like work at all.

That’s good advice, right?

Who wouldn’t prefer to pack in the 9-5 in favour of following a dream?

I take my hat of to you if you have done it. I truly do. The Jerry Maguire moment appeals to most of us, sometimes. Of course it does.

But my problem with the Do What You Love idea is that it suggests you can’t be truly happy if you don’t.

It values achievement. Start your own business. Learn a new language. Travel the world. Buy a boat.

Since this blog is about remembering the simple advice that we already know but forget from time to time, it’d be remiss of me not to point out the most basic one: Happiness comes from within.

Fulfillment is so much simpler than achievement. You can find it straight away. You might not have the time or money to follow your passion right now, but I bet you can write a letter to a friend, or smile at someone who looks like they could use it. You could bake a cake. Or listen to your favourite song. You could look at the clouds, pick daisies, or eat a bar of chocolate in the bath. You get the idea.

It’s realistic, not defeatist, to admit we can’t just jack in our jobs. We need them; we have responsibilities. But there’s always a way to make your work work for you. Be the guy that organises the nights out, or the gal who plans a bake sale to raise cash for a local charity. Speak up with your ideas and suggestions. Or just smile at your colleagues first thing in the morning.

‘Achievement comes from doing the thing right. Fulfillment comes from doing the right thing.’