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.
