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Achieving
Satisfaction
in All
Areas of Your Life
Biology-onoline.org
defines personal satisfaction as "a subjective evaluation,
judgment, or attitude expressed by an individual with respect
to the attainment of certain goals or needs based on his level
of aspiration or expectation." In other words, how does
your life measure up to what you expected or hoped it would
be?
Although
psychologists are best known for examining people's emotions
and mental well-being,  they
know that when the "whole person" is balanced physically,
spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, the person has a much
better chance to feel a sense of personal satisfaction with
his or her life.
For decades
now psychologists and medical doctors have agreed that regular
physical activity is a terrific antidote for depression. Rather
than producing exhaustion, physical activity makes us feel more
energized. If you have a family, just getting everyone off the
couch and out into the yard or park on a regular basis can strengthen
not only your bodies, but the emotional bonds of your relationships
as well. Looking and feeling better naturally leads to improved
self-esteem.
Spiritual
health is another part of the balanced and satisfied person.
For some of us, the word "spiritual" is directly connected
with a specific religion's beliefs and with the practice of
those beliefs. Others say "I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual."
In other words, they may not belong to any particular church,
but they still feel a connection with something greater than
themselves. Whatever your belief, this connection can be a powerful
motivator toward personal satisfaction and balance.
Your job
should be a source of mental and emotional satisfaction. People
who feel that their jobs have a meaningful purpose express more
job satisfaction than those who don't. Managers often tell their
employees about company "missions" and extol "the
vision thing," but even if you believe in your company's
mission, you may feel your own responsibilities have little
real purpose. If you don't have the authority to make decisions
affecting how the company operates, or if you are hounded about
reaching quotas but not praised when you do, working for even
the best company can be frustrating. Too many people work unhappily
for years at the same jobs, complaining steadily about how bad
it is, and thinking that some day in the future things will
change.
 But
living in the future can mean your present is wasted. It's extremely
important to get present-oriented. Think of success and satisfaction
as a road you are on right now-not a far-off destination that
never seems any closer. You're more likely to take the steps
that will move you forward to harmony and balance in all areas
of your life.
Making
the transition from standing still to moving forward begins
with a positive attitude-about yourself and your capabilities
as well as toward the people at work, your family members, and
people with whom you socialize. Relationships with other people
have all four aspects of personal satisfaction: physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual. Instead of concentrating on the negative,
look for the good in those around you and in situations you
encounter on a daily basis. If a problem presents itself, focus
on the solution, not the problem. Most problems offer opportunities
to learn something new. Instead of yelling at your computer,
figure out how to solve the problem. Instead of shouting at
your children or spouse, talk to them-or go for a walk or bike
ride to burn off some steam and then talk about the problem
and its solution. You'll find that positive thinking
and positive action empowers you to move forward past
problems and to keep moving on along the success road.
If you
feel you are in a cycle of failure, set a small goal you know
you can reach with just a little effort. If you've been talking
about doing something for a long time, but you haven't done
it, take one step toward that goal and allow yourself to feel
good about the accomplishment. Renewed self-esteem will propel
you on to your next goal.
Why is
self-esteem so important? Because if you have a negative self-image,
you are likely to become immobilized in an "I better not
try it because I probably can't do it" kind of mindset.
Of  course,
if you don't try, you'll never know what the outcome would be,
and you'll remain stuck in the kind of mental and emotional
state that leads to boredom, depression, and more immobilization.
Your very first goal may be to learn to like, accept, know,
and help yourself.
Setting
goals often involves making choices, and making choices usually
involves a certain degree of risk, but if you don't make your
own choices, you're a slave to the ones other people-or life
in general-have made for you. Certain things can't be
changed, but you should try your best to change anything within
your power that is negatively affecting your life.
Tap
into the energy source that is within you. Have faith in yourself.
Have the courage to set your own goals, make your own choices,
and take control of your life. If dissatisfaction is bringing
you down, you can take a small step toward satisfaction and
success right now. Fill in the form below, and learn about some
fantastic possibilities that could change your future.
Sue DeBrule
1-800-606-0613
Email
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