Can you succeed as a physique athlete and still not be fulfilled? How many times in your life have you achieved what you set out to do and then a short time later thought, “Is this all there is?”
There is a formula for success – called the science of goal-directed achievement – which is the process of taking your dreams, setting goals and working toward their achievement in a systematic manner.
In fact setting goals and achieving them is not that difficult because just about every goal and objective known to man has been accomplished by someone and a subsequently a blueprint was created. Follow the blueprint left by others and presto your goals are achieved. Sort of like a recipe for success.
The science of success is typically measured by getting the gold star on your paper, the trophy for first place, the MVP award, the accolades and the acknowledgment. Don’t get me wrong these things are awesome and provide a great feeling of significance but the feeling is fleeting….then you say what’s next?
It’s real easy to get caught up in the achievement mindset when your sole focus is on achievement. Especially in our sport, where our drive to succeed can easily run ramped. We have to guard ourselves against becoming too self-centered and outcome driven.
As a physique-athlete the time it takes to prepare to walk on stage forces us to make some difficult decisions when it comes to how we direct our free time and extracurricular activities and because of that we tend to neglect the things in our life that our really important and ultimately will fulfill us. We must find a way to balance our achievement-driven focus with what really matters so it serves us AND the best pathway to that balance, I feel, is by mastering the art of fulfillment.
So How is The Art of Fulfillment Mastered?
Living a fulfilled life is an art, not a science. What is fulfilling for one person may be uninspiring to another. Therefore, fulfillment comes in as many textures as there are human beings.
What fulfills you can be as simple as carving out time to mentor a child, getting behind a charitable cause or fostering a homeless animal. There are so many ways to step outside of yourself and contribute to the greater good.
However, you must find what turns you on! You must learn what makes you fulfilled because here’s the truth: Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. (See Michael Jackson and the litany of other supposedly successful people who ended their life unexpectedly…)
So How Do We Find Fulfillment?
There are universal principles of fulfillment, and the number one principle is that we must grow. Everything in the universe is either growing or dying. And if we don’t grow, we won’t be fulfilled. The second is that you must contribute beyond yourself.
If our goals only serve us, then achieving our goals will only make us happy for a moment. But if your mission is to serve others, then not only will you leave a legacy of giving, but you will be more fulfilled in life because you will feel at a very deep level that what you do matters and serves a higher purpose.
The point is this: What will make you fulfilled is to grow and to give.
Before I started my business, my sole focus was on me and the preparation that goes into looking my best on stage. Although I enjoyed it and found a lot of reward in it, the feeling and exhilaration of walking on stage for those few minutes were fleeting.
But when I started working with my clients and sharing in their growth and achievement the game changed for me. At that point, I got outside of myself and poured my time and resources into another person the reward was no longer fleeting but genuinely fulfilling and gratifying.I grew as a person, and my giving of my talents and knowledge allowed me to live vicariously through others.
In fact, today, I get so much more fulfillment from seeing one of my clients excel, even it means them just walking on stage for the first time, than my very own accomplishments. I literally light up like a Christmas tree!
To tie it all together the art of fulfillment is the ability to experience not only the thrill of chasing our achievements but also enjoying the magic of the moment because you realize that what you accomplish as an individual is minuscule in comparison to what you can contribute to others that in turn grows exponentially making our world a better place.
In short paying, it forward is so much better than hoarding the payoff! When you are in that place you will feel truly alive and fulfilled!
To tie it all together the art of fulfillment is the ability to experience not only the thrill of chasing our achievements but also enjoying the magic of the moment because you realize that what you accomplish as an individual is minuscule in comparison to what you can contribute to others that in turn grows exponentially making our world a better place.
In short paying, it forward is so much better than hoarding the payoff! When you are in that place you will feel truly alive and fulfilled!
Thank You To All My Cuties!
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to say thank you to each of my cuties that I have worked with for allowing me to enjoy the gift of constant and never-ending fulfillment. It has been a pleasure working with you, and I can’t thank you enough for the joy I have received in the process.
Also, I encourage each of you, if you haven’t already, to embrace the art of fulfillment so you to can create an extraordinary life for yourself and your family! And finally my hope for all of you is that you find that one thing that fulfills you beyond measure.
Remember achievement is a science and fulfillment is an art. Find your beautiful art that will make you light up like a Christmas tree! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! – Shawn
Questions? Comments? Did you find this post helpful? Let me know in the comments section.Thanks!
