The Achievement Lie taught us that achievement is the path to fulfillment. If we just worked hard enough and made the “right” choices, it says, we would be successful and therefore live happy and secure lives. But, as most of us learned the hard way, it just doesn't work like that. Achievement does not inherently lead to fulfillment.
1. Break Up with
The Achievement Lie
Most of us were taught to focus on the destination - the outcome - instead of the direction. But, this will rarely, if ever, lead to fulfillment, even if we achieve everything we set out to achieve.
To create a truly fulfilling life, we want to focus on the direction we’re moving in instead of the predetermined destination we think we want. Ask, "Is this Directionally right?" instead of "where will this get me?"
2. Direction,
Not Destination
Ambition is not the problem. Ambition, which is really just desire to have an impact and make a contribution, is one of the greatest strengths of UFOAs.
Aligned ambition is inner-directed (vs. externally-dictated) ambition, that incorporates your own personal authentic preferences, talents, joys, curiosities and experiences to create a career and a life that is uniquely well-suited to you.
3. Aligned Ambition, not Blind Ambition
Many of us get stuck thinking we have to "find our purpose," before we start living it. But, in reality, we find our purpose by living into it.
Instead, we want to follow our curiosity. Our curiosity is the best proxy we have for purpose. It's not a distraction; it's a clue to the most aligned and fulfilling path forward.
4. Forget your "purpose"; follow your curiosity.
Instead of picking our destination and reverse-engineering our path, we want to approach our lives with an experimental mindset, where we are testing and learning and launching and iterating, acquiring information and data and refining as we go. Think of it like the scientific method...but for life!
5. Launch & Iterate
E.L. Doctorow
“...driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
Directional Living is like...
• Less anxiety and fear.
• Less self-sabotage + getting in your own way.
• Trust yourself and the evolution of your life.
& More
You will live a life that feels distinctly like your life, be your most authentic and self-expressed self (and know who the hell that is).
Authenticity + Agency
You will learn to make even the biggest of life decisions easily and painlessly; stop ruminating, get unstuck and have clarity.
Clarity + Ease
Find fulfillment and your sense of purpose and your Something Bigger.
Fulfillment, Purpose + Meaning
The Benefits of Directional Living
So, Why Live Directionally?
Someone who is living a great-on-paper life, has checked all the boxes, done all the “right” things, amassed achievements and external success, yet still feels dissatisfied, unfulfilled, and increasingly disconnected from their work, life, and self (aka most of these days).
[en•der•fu(l)•fild / o•ver•a•chee•ver]
When I started working with Underfulfilled Overachievers, I realized that we were missing the vocabulary to accurately describe what we were all experiencing and also what we could be doing instead. So, I created my own! These are a few of the core concepts.
