“You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.”
Heather Schuck
What allows you to close the laptop, step away from the desk, and feel at peace at the end of the day? Is it the sense of accomplishment from a task well done, or the deeper satisfaction of knowing your work reflects your values and purpose?
Work is an essential part of life, but it’s not life’s purpose. Fulfillment in work isn’t about checking boxes or climbing ladders—it’s about living and working in alignment with what truly matters to you.
Why We Chase Gaps Instead of Celebrating Gains
It’s easy to measure life by the gaps: the unfinished projects, missed opportunities, or how far you still need to go. But what if, instead, you focused on the gains?
When you reflect on how far you’ve come, the lessons learned, and the progress made, you create space for gratitude and growth. This shift in mindset changes how you approach work and life, helping you find fulfillment in every step of the journey.
Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s book The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success, provides a powerful framework for embracing this perspective. It’s a guide to finding happiness not in perfection but in progress.
Work as a Means, Not the Destination
Fulfillment in work comes when your career supports your larger purpose—not when it becomes the purpose itself. Consider:
- Are you using work to create a meaningful impact?
- Does your work reflect what matters most to you?
- Are you proud of the life your work enables?
Shifting your perspective from how much you’ve done to how aligned your work is with your values leads to deeper satisfaction and balance.
Fulfillment isn’t a finish line. It’s a practice of living and working with intention—focusing on gains and using work as a means to support your purpose-driven life.
