Blog for July 21st 2025
Fulfillment: the achievement of something desired, promised or predicted. * Satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one’s abilities or character. * The meeting of a requirement or condition. * The performance of a task, duty, or role as required, pledged, or expected.
Just looking at the word explains a lot, the first part, “ful- or full” is to make something full. And “fill”, means to fill it full. Once something is full, it is completed, and this gives a person a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
I think we have the picture. To “fulfill” something is an accomplishment, a sense of satisfaction, it boots your self-esteem and self-worth. It can even build a foundation of self-trust and self-respect, and of being respectable. Because we proved to ourselves that, not only can we can do it, we did! It shows you are a person of your word and that increases your own perception of your value.
With all that said, I must tell you that I was drawn to this word because of a learning day our area had, and we were talking about fulfilling our commitments in the program. When we take on a position in the program (or anywhere else) we are committing to be of service until the obligation is fulfilled. A lot of our commitments have time limits, anywhere from three months, once a month, or once a week for a year. But the point is, when we say we’re going to do something or be somewhere, then it boosts our recovery and self-esteem.
I would like to share something very cool that happened to me last week. We had moved some furniture, and my husband was going through a drawer and found a goals list I had written out in June of 1990. I had eighteen goals there and as I went through them, I have completed fourteen of those goals and the other four are ongoing situations. I can’t tell you how great that made me feel to know that I have stuck to my life goals and completed them.
I must say that my true fulfillment is not only from completing these goals, but by walking with my Lord. He stays close to me and helps me in all my endeavors and life’s ups and downs. I also love to see Him work in my children’s and grandchildren’s lives. The feeling of fulfillment when I watch one of them graduate, get married, get a great job or anything else gives me a sense of pride and happiness. I feel the same way with friends and sponsees.
I do have a new set of goals and those ongoing ones. But I must tell you that the only way I was able to complete even one of those goals, like getting my master’s degree, is because of my recovery, staying clean and working a program. For me, that has been NA, and of course, only with the help of my Higher Power. He has been with me every step of the way. I don’t just plow head on and go off willy nilly on a self will run riot. I pray about it, write about it, talk to my sponsor, husband, best friends and I research the thing I intend to do.
Slowing down, taking my time and waiting for my HP’s direction has proven to be the way to go, it’s the way I choose to do things these days. In my addiction and early recovery I seemed to always be in a hurry and therefore, never finished anything. Lol. No kidding, who can accomplish anything in a huff? Not me.
These days the most valuable and worthwhile things I want to accomplish and fulfill are my commitment to my God, to my husband and kids (all of them were on my goals list). My commitment to recovery, helping others and giving back, (also on the goals list). These are the most important things to me.
For whatever reason God laid it on me to be a person who cares about fulfilling my commitments and goals, that’s who I am, not sure why, but I am. It matters. Maybe because I’ve seen how it affects others when certain people in their circles do not take commitment seriously. I think it is one of those tell-tale signs of recovery. I hear a lot of men in the rooms share that being there for their kids these days is of great importance for them. I love and appreciate that.
Recovery is awesome and I am so grateful that I get to be clean, have a life worth living, give back and follow my goals. Another of my goals on that list was writing, and I am tending to that goal through this blog and I am writing a couple of stories. Writing is my source of happiness in creativity, I love it. I am as compelled to write as I am to breathe, I just need to make more time to do so.
If you are thinking about taking a commitment, first, pray about it write about it, talk about it, to your sponsor or someone who cares about you and your recovery. Think about the long-term commitment and all that’s required so that you can fulfill your commitment, and complete your goals.
Question of the Week: Do you fulfill your commitments? Do you feel fulfilled in your life?
