Wearing: Urban Outfitters Flat Brim Felt Fedora Hat, Tahari Boiled Wool Solid Long Coat, H&M Fine-knit Sweater, H&M A-line Skirt, Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific Adrina Boot

Do you feel that every part of your life is fulfilling? You should. But it takes deliberate steps and time to get to that point. I can say I’ve arrived! At least, to feeling fulfilled with my life. No, it doesn’t mean that my life is at all perfect – it is far from that. What it means is that everything I’m doing, and everyone that’s a part of my life, matters. And I feel an overall happiness and inner peace that I haven’t felt in quite a while.

My career feels fulfilling, because the work that I do aligns with my personal and professional values and goals.

And my personal friendships/relationships are fulfilling, because I excised those who were not contributing positively to my life, and cultivated close relationships with those who do.

The ‘extracurricular’ activities I engage in are fulfilling, because they are by choice, and valuable to me, in various ways. Performing standup comedy and improv is necessary for me, because I love to laugh and have fun, and it’s a great creative way to express myself.

I continue to blog because I continue to love doing it. It’s been a long time since I started this blog (back in 2006), and have taken periodic breaks when needed, but I always return to it because I remain passionate about writing and sharing. There are a few other things I’m working on behind the scenes that I won’t share just yet, but they also align with my interest, values, and personal life goals. But overall, everything that I am currently doing, planning on doing, and who I’m surrounding myself with, is by choice, and truly what I want. It feels good!

Are you on the path to achieving and living a fulfilling life? Here are a few tips I’ve incorporated into my life that helped me feel more fulfilled:
1. Learn to say no.
This year, I’ve had to learn to say no, and not feel guilty about it. That means not doing favors because I felt guilted into them, saying no by ending toxic relationships and never looking back, not forcing myself to go out for the sake of hanging out, among other things. You have to live your life for yourself, not for others. I love to make others happy but had to learn not to do so at the detriment of my own sanity.

2. Do what makes you happy.
This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised to learn how many people don’t do it. It’s usually due to fear or excuses. Sometimes you can’t control certain circumstances. But there are things you can control, and you should make it a point to engage in those things as much as possible. You have to make your own happiness a priority. I make time for the things I love/people I love because why not? Why would I invest more time and energy in things that only serve to sap my energy and precious time? I’ll say it again: find and do what makes you happy!

3. Surround yourself with positivity.
I don’t like to engage in negative chatter; I much prefer to have positive, uplifting, inspiring, motivational, fun and funny conversations. The people I’m around – family, friends, comedy peeps, and colleagues, for the most part fall into one or more of those categories. Also, I ensure I have an array of positive messaging intertwined in my daily life, through various means. A longtime friend of mine sends daily Christian devotionals via email, and I read those regularly. I pray before I leave the house every morning, and listen to Joyce Meyer’s “Enjoying Everyday Life” podcast almost daily. And I follow Christian and motivational accounts on social media. I am always feeding my spirit in one way or another.

4. Spend your time on valuable things.
Everything can be replaced except time. So if you waste it – it’s gone forever. Make a plan, set some goals, and decide how you want to best spend your time. My life consists of what’s most important to me: God, family, friends, work, comedy, improv, blogging, business, traveling, and other fun things. These are all things worthy of investing my time in, because they each matter so much to me.

As we head into this new decade, I hope you find that every area of your life feels fulfilling. I certainly plan on continuing to follow my own tips, and living a fulfilling life!