The top way to feel fulfilled *consistently*

Do you find yourself being unhappy, but you don't know why, since everything "seems fine"? 

Knowing your life values can help you figure out the "why" and feel fulfilled consistently.

Values are the aspects of life that you, well, value most at your core. They are different what you need right now, but are the things you value in general.

How are you supposed to figure out your values? I recommend starting by thinking of a time when you felt happy and fulfilled, and writing about it in detail. What activities were you performing? Who did you have around you? What about the experience felt most exciting?

For example, one of my happiest memories is travelling alone in Southeast Asia. I loved figuring out how to travel on my own. I loved travelling slowly and leisurely, without moving around quickly from town to town and island to island. And I loved meeting new people. 

In Tonsai, Thailand

What about you? What is your experience that made you feel happy and fulfilled? 

Once you write about this experience, extrapolate 10 values from this list that you notice were honored during that experience.

 The values I honored during my trip include:

• Adventure: I headed into unknown territory on my own and had to "figure things out" on the fly (like figuring out my mystery illnesses, and how to get out of bribing gov't officials)
• Learning: I learned new skills, like scuba diving and rock climbing. 
• Passion: I had the freedom to spend my days doing what I enjoyed most.
• Relaxation: Self-explanatory.
• Independence: Travelling on my own, I was not beholden to anyone and able to make my own choices. 
• Connection: I felt comfortable forging new connections with people around me.

Pick your 5 top values. These are the things you care most about. When you live a life that honors these values, you feel fulfilled and happy.

Ask yourself: How are you currently honoring these needs in your current life? How could you honor them more through your actions?

When you are living a life that honors your most important values, your needs feel "taken care of."​ Understanding your values can help you feel more grounded and committed to what you're looking for in life, and less likely to get overwhelmed by it all.