God gave humans healthy desires that he intends to fulfill, although he does not promise to fulfill all of them in this age. If our overall level of fulfillment is low then it is safe to say that we are in a time of suffering. The following fulfillment assessment helps us to see our overall level of fulfillment and to know which areas are most lacking. This will help us to focus on the areas of need and to embrace the recovery process for those areas.
One of the important principles of fulfillment is that if we are severely lacking in fulfillment, then it will be very difficult to pursue new transformation. Instead, we have to apply our energy to enduring the deprivation and wait until we find some healing and fulfillment before we can embark on additional transformation.
This assessment is also helpful when helping others through times of suffering. We need to keep in mind that we should not suggest new transformation for their lives until their fulfillment improves because they will not have the energy for it. This is a key principle for spiritual counselors.
When we suffer it is tempting to fulfill our healthy desires in unhealthy ways. Even when they are not suffering, humans often choose to get their healthy desires fulfilled in unhealthy ways. In one sense, this is the story of human history. Christian maturity includes learning how to eliminate harmful forms of fulfillment and instead find fulfillment through God and his wisdom, even in the midst of deep suffering. Some of our unhealthy fulfillment is subtle so we need to be brutally honest with ourselves as we ask God to reveal our fulfillment strategies.
Fulfillment Assessment
On a scale of 1 to 10 how fulfilled are you in the following areas of desire: (0 is not at all, 5 is somewhat fulfilled but not enough to be happy in that area, 10 is fulfilled as much as you can imagine in this life)? Many of these areas overlap. When finished examine your areas of low fulfillment to determine if you need to seek God’s wisdom and fulfillment in those areas.
- _____ Security, safety
- _____ Feeling physically healthy
- _____ Basic living provisions and financial needs
- _____ Belonging in society
- _____ Knowing our identity (our inner realities and relationship with everything)
- _____ Inner wholeness (versus feeling empty or broken)
- _____ Inner peace
- _____ Inner joy
- _____ Sense of freedom
- _____ Friendship
- _____ Enjoyment of hobbies or recreation
- _____ Social fun or festivities
- _____ Belonging to a supportive group of people
- _____ Living in a supportive home
- _____ Approval
- _____ Physical pleasure
- _____ Love
- _____ Significance (this can include your occupation)
- _____ Purpose (this can include your occupation)
- _____ Being valued or honored by others, but not idolized
- _____ Righteousness (actively being good)
- _____ Justification (you can defend your lifestyle before God)
- _____ Creativity (this can include your occupation)
- _____ Fruitfulness (this can include your occupation)
- _____ Exercising leadership (this can include your occupation)
- _____ Knowledge
- _____ Wisdom
- _____ Oneness with God
- _____ Being known
