Have you ever determined what it would take to give you long-term satisfaction? I’m talking about the kind of satisfaction that causes people to notice a glow of satisfaction everywhere you go. I believe to understand something that is universal in human desire yet so oblique in definition it helps to examine the opposite. In other words, understanding what satisfaction “isn’t” may help you determine what it “is”.

Satisfaction is not:
1. More Money.
2. More Fame.
3. The job of your dreams.

Those three together, can be answered by looking at any number of examples. The mere mention of certain names should make the point:
• Robin Williams
• Steve Jobs
• Amy Winehouse
• Heath Ledger
• Anna Nicole Smith
• Michael Jackson

Tragically, the list could go on and on. Most of the people that would show up as being truly satisfied, are people you know but others have never heard of.

Success is a big part of satisfaction but only when the person has determined what success actually is. -Ken Halford.

If we just go through life achieving one thing after another, there are moments when we feel rewarded but we’re on to that next thing so quickly that long-term satisfaction doesn’t have a chance to take hold. So here are three suggestions to help these achievements bring you to a place of long-term satisfaction.

#1- Determine your goal of success ahead of time. Make sure that you know when you’ve reached your goals. The best way to do this is to write it down and be specific. If your goal is to read ten books on a subject, write down the names of the books. If your goal is to get along better with your spouse, write down how you will know when the goal is reached. If your goal is to make more money, write down the amount. How will you know when your specific goal is reached? Write it down.

#2- Make smaller goals on the way to your big goals. Using the examples above, instead of making Ten books your only goal, make each book a goal and acknowledge the completion of each one. Rather than an ambiguous goal of getting along better with your spouse, write down one thing you can do this week that will make you a better spouse and continue adding to that until you have reached your big goal of getting along better with your spouse. (You may be able to come up with some small thing each day!)

#3- Limit your talk about the goals. This may seem counterproductive to the person that feels he needs support to accomplish a goal but research has proven that a big part of the satisfaction that comes from reaching a goal is provided when your friends respond to your goal setting. Save the satisfaction for when you have actually completed the thing. Sure, if it’s a big one and you need encouragement and accountability to follow through, tell that one person who will help with that. Don’t broadcast it to too many. I have made this mistake WAY too often so don’t think I am calling you out and I am above it. Feeling satisfied from the pre-conversation is absolutely counter-productive to actually reaching what you are striving toward

In closing, I would be remiss to say that I believe TRUE satisfaction is available anywhere outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Him, I would absolutely, and HAVE absolutely, been temporarily satisfied by destructive living. I have set the wrong goals apart from Him and His plan for my life and set myself on the course of the aforementioned folks who believed success alone would provide satisfaction in their life. Faith in Christ alone has opened the door for a life that rises above that and my hope comes eternally from the only One who never fails to satisfy. If you haven’t opened your heart to His Love, I urge you to make that your first goal. You will find satisfaction like never before and while you will not be above the troubles of this world, you will be secure in the One who has overcome the world.

I pray that you are blessed and that you will comment below and hit the ‘share button’ to get the message to others. It is greatly appreciated!