It seems only logical the posts on this website center on photography. More aptly, my personal photography and the creative ventures that photography allow me to enjoy.

Though this specific post may seem to stray from that, I hope you will see that it does not. Possibly, and hopefully, you will understand that a fulfilled life has many facets. A creative life, one in which the arts of any kind play an important role, rely heavily on and plays a major part in a fulfilled life.

Let’s talk about some of these details that help build a fulfilled life.

Contentment

Defined briefly as; a state of happiness and satisfaction. I have learned, now over my 62-plus years of life, this is not about how things have worked out for you in your life, but rather how you choose to see your life. In other words, contentment is a mindset.

There may be no better example of this than the concept that was developed and utilized by James Stockdale and became known as the “Stockdale Paradox”. To state the concept (greatly simplified) of the Stockdale Paradox; “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” In other words, don’t set yourself up for disappointment. Don’t stray from the realities of life and your situation. Stay positive and keep putting one foot in front of the other, going in the right direction. No matter how long it takes.

Optimism is (or can be) a killer of success. That is my personal take when I read about the Stockdale Paradox. When you don’t achieve what you wished to achieve, many people give up. Leading to disappointment and ultimate failure. It’s not about being a pessimist, but rather more of a realist. I think. At least, that is what I chose to think, and I believe that is the whole idea. Do what you need to do to keep your mind in the right place. Don’t fantasize about how great things will be “when”. And don’t dwell on the doom and gloom of “what ifs”.

Emotional Well-Being

Contentment brings a sense of inner peace. It is closely tied to overall well-being. You experience less stress due to everyday things. You appreciate the small pleasures in day-to-day life. A simple walk in the park with your dog is capable of bringing great happiness. You accept life as it comes, knowing and understanding “things happen”. Your outlook stays positive. It’s simply your job to do the right things, except the realities of your situation, and carry on.

Enhanced Focus and Productivity

I think we all can relate to the difficulty of staying focused when we have worries on our minds. They can become all-consuming. This becomes extremely evident when we are trying to focus on tasks or trying to be productive or creative. Contentment brings increased energy, or possibly more accurately, increased clarity of thought. Allowing one to stay focused in a positive direction.

Remember that contentment doesn’t mean complacency or lack of ambition. It’s about finding a balance between striving for your goals and appreciating what you have in the present moment.