I’ve been reflecting lately on the myth that fulfillment is an end point, or destination. Finding fulfillment isn’t about finding a magic bullet – a “dream job,” a perfect city to live in, a perfect mate; instead, finding fulfillment is about developing the ability to know what you want, and the will to go get it.

As my life has gotten richer in the past few years – as I’ve filled it with writing, and performing, and the luxuries of the freelance lifestyle (like mid-day yoga classes, followed by an actual shower!) – I’ve realized that no matter how content I am with the way my life is going, I’m always actively challenging myself to align my outer life even more closely with the life of my dreams.

Example: when I first started freelancing, back in 2006, I billed myself as a strategic consultant and project manager, since, coming out of my role as director of PBS Interactive, those were the skills I thought I could most easily market. And I was right: I got a number of jobs in those areas, with both non-profits and media companies, by selling my PBS experience. At first, I was so thrilled to be freelancing, I thought, “beggars can’t be choosers” – and I took on whatever projects were offered to me, even if they didn’t sound particularly interesting.

And then, this summer, I realized – it’s time to move to the next level. Going freelance was a big step in the right direction for me: skipping out on office politics and the like has given me more energy for my creative pursuits, as well as the flexibility to pursue them on my own schedule. But I’d reached a plateau, and it was time to challenge myself to spend even more of my time on work I found personally fulfilling — since I believe that the more fulfilled you are, the more of a positive contribution you make to the world.

So now, I’m actively seeking work that’s more editorial in nature – my dream is to work on this blog full-time, and to also publish my writing in several other outlets, but in the meantime, more jobs that involve writing and editing (and fewer that involve project management) will increase my fulfillment. And in the meantime, of course, I’ll continue to work on Creative DC, and am actually planning a redesign and some increased marketing, to help me get closer to my dream of doing it full-time.

My life is truly wonderful, and I express gratitude for it every single day. But for me, gratitude is not resting on my laurels; it’s a reminder that the more actively I commit myself to seeking fulfillment, the more fulfillment comes my way.

Tagged as: essays, fulfillment