Everyone wants to live a full life, but this can be quite hard to define. What does it really mean to have a full life and how do you measure true success from person to person? It can mean many things to many people and if you ask a group you'll likely get a bunch of different answers from telling you to make more money to ones that say you should diversify your social life. That being said there are some major factors that contribute to fullness in life that everyone usually has in common. This article will explore some of these factors and what it means to have a rich and fulfilling life.

The Foundation of Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being

Before looking at any other aspects, the fundamentals need to be taken care of and this means physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. These factors are all essential for leading a healthy, fulfilling life because without these foundations you have no way to enjoy life, connect with others or pursue any goals. You can surely find many people who might seem successful on paper but because they don't have adequate physical or mental health they may still struggle.

Most of us know what to do to achieve these foundations, physical well-being can be achieved through exercise and diet, while mental well-being involves improving your mindset and managing stress. Emotional well-being means being self-aware in expressing your emotions, while spiritual well-being involves finding a sense of purpose and meaning in life. If we start with these pillars we can then move on to other important parts of leading fulfilling lives.

Developing Strong Relationships with Family and Friends

Humans are social creatures and this means that building strong relationships with those closest to us is essential. Family and friends will always be there to not only celebrate the good times but also support us during difficult times in life. Developing these relationships takes many things such as regular communication, quality time spent together, and the willingness to listen and support each other. But once these are established your family and friends will play a large part in helping you maintain a rich and fulfilling life even up until your later years.

Pursuing Meaningful Goals and Finding Joy in Challenge

After you've had the fundamentals of wellbeing and family taken care of then the next pillar of fulfilment involves making some goals for yourself. No one wants to get to the end of their lives without being able to pursue anything meaningful or difficult. Pursuing meaningful goals can provide direction and purpose in our lives to further drive us to become better, not to mention the sense of accomplishment when these goals are achieved. This also means the ability to find joy in the process as well and embrace the steps we take to get there. If you can master this then you're on your way to leading truly a remarkable life.

Engaging in Leisure Activities such as Reading, Traveling or Socializing

Burnout is on the rise and it is all too common to get caught up in the daily grind of work and responsibilities. Yes, leisure might be seen as a luxury to have for many but it is also an important aspect of fulfilment and that time off may be the significant recharge required for you to get back at achieving your goals. It can mean many things for different people, from curling up with a good book, exploring a new city or catching up with friends. Leisure activities help us stop to smell the roses and are fundamental in any life lived well.

Conclusion

While everyone’s definition of a fulfilling life may vary, it’s undeniable that overall wellness and achieving personal growth are essential to developing a life worth living. As we've discussed in this post, taking some time to develop the fundamentals of health, relationship, goals and even leisure all contribute to leading a rich life. If you're struggling on your journey then start slow, begin on the fundamentals and keep working. After all, you have your whole life to master the project which is you. Good luck.

Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash