Feeling satisfied and complete, having achieved meaningful goals or realized important potentials. A deep sense of contentment that comes from living according to one's values and purposes.
From Old English fullfyllan meaning 'to fill up completely,' combining 'full' and 'fill.' The emotional meaning developed from the idea of having one's deepest needs and aspirations completely satisfied, like a vessel filled to capacity.
Fulfillment differs from happiness in that it's more enduring and less dependent on external circumstances. Research shows that fulfilled people often report lower moment-to-moment pleasure but higher overall life satisfaction, suggesting that meaning-making is more psychologically nourishing than pleasure-seeking.
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