The First Step to Finding Fulfillment in Life and Career — Martina Fink

Who doesn't desire a fulfilled life, one with meaning and purpose, where you can only be the best version of yourself, impact people, and make a difference in this world? Where your work “makes sense”, and you see a direct result of the hard work you’re putting in every day?

Many high-achieving and successful women crave a more meaningful life, a life with purpose, a life where they don't just work for a company where they’re replaceable at any moment.

I call this The Glow Life.

The foundation of any glow life is rest

There are countless coaches who help people find their life purpose, in fact, many women choose to become a coach themselves to be able to help others. This is a beautiful thing, because the world definitely needs more coaches and more people who vibrate at a higher level doing meaningful work.

However, here's what nobody teaches you about finding fulfillment in this life:

You need to get the foundation right first.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

There's a concept in psychology that makes a lot of sense to me: Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

It basically describes how human needs are best met for ultimate fulfillment. The order can slightly vary depending on the person and the circumstances, but what is misunderstandably clear is that the physiological needs are the foundation, our primary human needs.

Sleep, food, air, water, shelter.

As long as these needs aren't met, it's really hard to work on any other needs, such as social belonging, self-esteem, intimacy, or self-actualization.

Yet, society keeps telling us that we need to get to the top, the faster, the better, regardless at what cost.

This is so toxic and unhealthy, and, in the worst case, can lead to burnout, adrenal fatigue, and depression, even at a young age.

When you’re not well-rested, it’s hard to take any action

From my own experience, I know that it's impossible to show up for friends and family, when you’re feeling exhausted. Time and time again, I had to cancel appointments with my loved ones, because I was so tired from work. This resulted in feelings of guilt, and it turned into a vicious circle that was hard to break out from.

I could have just set my priorities differently and organized my time better. But unfortunately, it’s a bit more complex than that.

I also know the feeling when you're working really hard to make a dream come true, but you can barely keep your eyes open. Or you're trying to be intimate with your partner, but simply can't get into the mood, because you've had a really long day and are still thinking about work in your mind.

What does a healthy foundation look like?

All of the things we desire and need depend on how well we build the foundation. Here are a few temperature-check questions for you to ponder on or journal about:

How well are you sleeping?
Do you wake up well-rested in the morning?
How well can you switch off your mind after work?
Are you taking time to eat, or do you eat at your desk every day?
Do you regularly skip meals, or forget to eat?
Do you nourish your body with nutritious foods?
Do you take enough breaks throughout the day to breathe in some fresh air?
Are you drinking enough water every day?

(Another question would be whether you have a roof over your head, but most likely, that's not a question I need to ask you, since you clearly have access to electricity and the internet.)

Sleep is the key ingredient to a healthy, glowing life

So how do you get to the top of Maslow’s pyramid? You start at the bottom.

You take care of your sleep. You eat well. You rest. You drink water. (And you dress yourself and make sure you have a roof over your head.)

If these are things you know you should improve and work on, but always find excuses why other things, such as work, are more important, working with a coach might be a great first step for you. Click below for more details:

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