“Those who live a life of purpose will find true fulfillment .”
~ Hardpen ~

In my book “Paradigm for Self-Improvement”, I proposed a framework for personal growth and development. One of the main constructs I explored in the said framework is fulfillment.         

In the self-improvement framework, fulfillment is presented as the outcome of the process. This concept has multiple definitions, but in my book, it is described as akin to “the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted.” I use the phrase “akin to” because fulfillment goes deeper than accomplishment.

Fulfillment (characterized by achieving health, success, and happiness) is presented as the outcome of the self-improvement process. When you embrace personal growth and development, your ultimate goal becomes realizing your full potential.

Through self-improvement, you will acquire attitudes, beliefs, skills, and abilities, and engage in practices and activities to become your best and strongest version. The transformation you will undergo will enable you to achieve success, maintain good health, and experience genuine happiness, giving you a sense of fulfillment.

Establishing the connection between achieving one’s full potential and experiencing fulfillment—where the latter results from the former—aligns with Jim Rohn’s statement: “Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.” 

The quote implies that self-improvement is a prerequisite to fulfillment. It emphasizes the importance of personal growth and development in pursuing success, health,  and happiness. Rohn suggests that you do not need to chase these things. Fulfillment naturally comes when you focus on improving yourself from within. It is the byproduct of becoming the best you.

When you cultivate the right attitudes and beliefs, hone the necessary skills and abilities, and consistently perform the vital practices and activities, you grow personally and professionally, and opportunities and achievements will follow naturally. When you work hard to improve yourself, you create conditions where success is drawn to you.

Some people argue that fulfillment—the realization of dreams and ambitions—is the ultimate goal of self-improvement. They view it as the end, and self-improvement is the means to achieve it.

The relationship between the constructs of self-improvement and fulfillment, as articulated by Jim Rohn, can be framed in Simon Sinek’s WHY-HOW-WHAT structure.

The Why (Goal) is to attain full potential, the How (Plan) is the self-improvement process, and the What (Outcome) is fulfillment (Health, Success, Happiness)

Molding the relationship between self-improvement and fulfillment within Sinek’s Why-How-What framework is necessary to present this connection more clearly in the context of my proposed self-improvement paradigm. The WHY (or the reason) for undergoing personal growth and development is attaining full potential, while the pursuit of fulfillment—becoming successful, healthy,  and happy—is the WHAT. The HOW is the self-improvement process. 

The pursuit of personal growth and development becomes deeply rooted when achieving one’s full potential serves as the core purpose (WHY). Perhaps this is because I subscribe to the dictum that becoming the best version of yourself leads to success. Success, health, and happiness are the natural consequences of growing and enhancing one’s abilities.

That does not mean that making fulfillment your WHY is wrong. If your motivation comes from the joy and satisfaction of achieving something or accomplishing specific and meaningful goals, fulfillment could be a better WHY.

“Becoming the best you” or “achieving fulfillment” are good reasons to embrace self-improvement. Both of them are powerful and meaningful WHYs. Which one you choose depends on what resonates more deeply with you.

Fulfillment, as presented here, is highlighted as the “WHAT.” Specifically, the tangible outcomes of the self-improvement journey are success, health, and happiness. As to why I have grouped these three concepts to characterize fulfillment, I will explain toward the end of this discourse.

Volumes have been written about success, health, and happiness.

Success, as defined in various dictionaries, broadly refers to achieving desired results, whether fame, wealth, or accomplishment. Prosperity, wealth, and triumph are some of the words synonymous with success. These definitions and related terms reveal how success is quantified through wealth, status, influence, and achievement, contributing to our understanding of fulfillment.

So, when asked who the most successful people in the world are, we never fail to mention the names of the world’s wealthiest men listed in Forbes’ top billionaires. The next ones on our lists are showbiz, sports, media, and political personalities.

When we discuss successful people, we also remember the names of quite a few—some of them our friends—who may not be rich, famous, or influential but excel in their respective fields of endeavor.

Some questions are begging for answers.

Are those people we consider successful happy, too? Do their money, fame, power, and accomplishments bring them happiness? Nobody knows but themselves and perhaps their loved ones and close friends.

At least they have the money. However, can their money buy them happiness? Can money buy happiness? These questions have been asked so often that they could already be considered meaningless. However, in the light of the present discussion, they should be asked, not to have them answered, but as a point to ponder.

We presume that with all the luxuries the money of the wealthy, famous, and powerful could afford, it is almost impossible that they are not happy. Unless it is true that, according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, only the basic needs (physiological and safety) can be met by money. Psychological needs (esteem, belonging, and love) and self-fulfillment are not available on the shelves of even the most expensive stores.

Here is the next question: “Are they healthy?”

They are already wealthy, famous, and powerful. They are truly blessed if they are also in good shape. Of course, they are—financially. But what about the physical, emotional, mental, and other dimensions of their well-being? Again, nobody knows but themselves and the people close to them. 

Whether or not they are suffering from any debilitating disease, mental anguish, or emotional stress is difficult to determine. 

I brought out the questions on happiness and health in the discussion of success because there is a need to strike a balance between the ephemeral and the ethereal when defining the concept. The prevailing view of success is materialistic. We attach tangible proofs to it—money, a big house, a new car, a degree, a job title, a specific body type, etc. I am not saying such an act (attaching tangible proof of success) is wrong. Nevertheless, I consider it not encompassing.

Why?

What about simple people who did not attend school, did not have cars, and lived in simple houses in far-flung farming and fishing villages, happily living a simple life with their loved ones and diligently performing their role in society? Would they not be considered as having achieved fulfillment?

When you do not have a mansion, a car, fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, a university degree, or a considerable amount of money in the bank—when you are not famous and not influential—when you are just an ordinary, decent individual, honestly earning a living and contented with what you have and what you are capable of achieving, but you are happy and healthy, would you not be considered successful?

Success need not be confined to material possessions or societal acclaim. For the farmer rising at dawn to nurture crops, the fisherman braving the waves to provide food, the driver ensuring safe journeys, or the janitor maintaining clean spaces, success can be measured by the dignity with which they live and work. Their fulfillment lies in their purpose, dedication, and the quiet joy they derive from their societal roles, which they fulfill diligently and without complaints.

Viewing success in this light means measuring it as personal and individual, like happiness and health. There is no standard measuring stick that can be imposed for its measurement.  You must set your parameters when determining your happiness.

When we consider success as part of the holistic idea of fulfillment—blending health, happiness, and purpose—it becomes a universal concept accessible to all, regardless of status or possessions.

The most valuable lesson I heard about success is this: You, yourself, must define it. Do not allow other people to define success for you. Do not subscribe to the standards they set. You know your capabilities and limitations. Factor them in when setting your success parameters. However, do not be satisfied with your current skill set. You must improve and raise your bar as you see yourself improving. Do not forget that as you reach your goals, you should not sacrifice your happiness and health.

This brings me to why  I have bundled success, health, and happiness as the key descriptors or manifestations of fulfillment. These three elements are interconnected and essential for a truly fulfilling life. Fulfillment is a harmonious state where success, health, and happiness converge.

Success is a source of personal and professional fulfillment, but not worth sacrificing good health. Similarly, happiness can add meaning and joy to life, but cannot stand alone without the stability of success or the vitality of good health. To achieve true fulfillment, you must experience all three simultaneously, as they complement and reinforce one another, creating a balanced and complete sense of well-being.

In bundling success, health, and happiness as the key descriptors of fulfillment, we recognize their interdependence and collective power to shape a truly enriched life. Success without health is fragile; health without happiness is incomplete; and happiness without the satisfaction of achievement may lack depth. Fulfillment arises from the synergy of these three elements, which create a balance that nourishes both body and spirit.  

When you travel the road to self-improvement, remember that fulfillment is not a static final destination but a continuous state to aspire to, shaped by your choices and priorities. You will live a productive and deeply satisfying life by nourishing success, health, and happiness, and equally giving importance to each other.