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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.
Bret
Anderson
800-676-9238
Email
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