Am I Living a Fulfilled Life? Part 1

“Have I lived according to what truly matters to me?”

Am I Living a Fulfilled Life?

Every now and then, a question enters my mind that I find difficult to ignore. Not a question about work, money, politics, or what I am going to do tomorrow, but one that forces me to look at my life as a whole. The question that my mind sometimes slaps me with is: Am I living a fulfilled life? It is not necessarily a question I want to ask myself because answering it honestly requires more than looking at what I have achieved. It is a question that asks me to look at how I have lived, who I have become, the people I have loved, the choices I have made, the dreams I have pursued and, perhaps most uncomfortably, the things I have left undone. I wonder if you have ever stopped to ask yourself the same question. If yes, that makes the two of us. If not, I invite you to read on.

I sometimes imagine what it would feel like to know that today was my last day. Not next year, not when I retire, not when I have finally achieved the things I am working towards, but today. Do not fear; it might sound pessimistic, but I find this question important because it is part of my driving force in life. If I knew that I had only a few hours left, would I feel that my life had been well lived? Would I feel that I had spent my time on the things that genuinely mattered to me, or would my mind immediately begin producing a long list of things I wish I had done differently? Would I feel grateful for the life I had, or would I be overwhelmed by everything I never got around to doing? And what would happen if you asked yourself exactly the same questions?

I would like to share something important with you that I have come to realise: fulfilment is not necessarily the same thing as success. Let me explain. I can easily fall into the trap of measuring my life through achievements because society constantly encourages me to do so. I am expected to have ambitions, set goals, earn more, achieve more, become more successful, and continually improve myself. There is nothing wrong with ambition, but I have started to question whether achievement alone can give me a fulfilled life. I could accomplish many of the things that society considers successful and still feel that something is missing. At the same time, I could live a relatively ordinary life and feel deeply satisfied with the person I have become. This makes me wonder whether the better question is not, “Have I achieved enough?” but, “Have I lived according to what truly matters to me?” What would your answer be?

So, I have spent time thinking about what actually matters to me. That is different from what other people expect from me, what looks impressive, or what social media might suggest a successful life should look like. I mean the things that would still matter to me if nobody was watching and nobody was going to applaud me for them. Family matters to me. Relationships matter to me. Learning matters to me. Creating matters to me. Helping others matters to me. Being healthy and continuing to grow matter to me. Photography and writing matter to me. There are many things I could list, but the most important question is whether I actually give these things enough space in my life. I wonder how many of us know exactly what matters to us but still spend much of our time on things that do not.

Unfortunately, I have also realised that living according to my values is not always easy. I would like to believe that I always act according to what I believe, but I don’t. I procrastinate. I get tired. Often, I become distracted. Sometimes, I choose what is easier rather than what I know is right. I have learned that being authentic does not mean being perfect. It means recognising when I have fallen short and trying again. It means being honest enough with myself to admit that there are areas of my life that still need work. Perhaps you too have values that are important to you but find that your everyday life does not always reflect them.

Part 2 will be published next week, together with a printable worksheet to help you reflect on this topic.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this reflection, consider subscribing for future posts exploring photography, life, and the stories behind the moments we often take for granted.

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About the Author

Sergio Morana is an educator, photographer and writer based in Malta. Through photography and writing, he explores life’s meaningful moments, personal growth, and the stories that connect us.

📷 Photography: Holy Communions • Confirmations • Portraits • Family Sessions • Events

📧 sergio.morana@gmail.com

🌐 www.sergiomorana.com