The answer to fulfillment and abundance May not be in obtaining but in remaining.

Tamara Marcella December 18, 2024

5,517 Comments

The Answer to Fulfillment and Abundance May Not Be in Obtaining but in Remaining

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” (Proverbs 22:28)
This timeless proverb warns against shifting foundational principles. It reminds us to honor the values and wisdom that guide us toward true fulfillment, rather than trading them for fleeting substitutes.

What Are Ancient Boundary Stones?

In Biblical times, boundary stones symbolized fairness and stability, preventing deceit or exploitation. Spiritually, they represent unshakable truths that ground humanity—like relationships, purpose, and community. When we remove these markers, we risk losing our way.

Words like fulfilled or satisfied may seem simple, even primitive, when compared to today’s prized vocabulary: ambition, drive, and hustle. While being a go-getter and goal-getter are essential traits for achievement, have we exchanged the secret to true happiness for a disguised recipe of stress, anxiety, and loss?

Why Fulfillment Requires Remaining, Not Just Obtaining

As modern values shift to emphasize career-building, wealth accumulation, and social mobility, society often sends the message: Obtain at all costs to achieve your dream life. But is that the dream we really desire? Or is it leading us further away from what truly matters?

Let me share a personal encounter that reshaped my perspective on fulfillment.

A Meeting That Changed My Perspective

During a recent getaway with my husband, I met an incredible woman who embodied busy girl brio. She was the epitome of success—a high achiever blazing the trail as a boss babe. Financially secure and thriving in the fast lane, she seemed to have it all. If success were a person, it would be her.

As we chatted, our conversation naturally shifted from “what we do” to “who we are.” I admired her accomplishments, and to my surprise, she admired my “lack” of them. This struck me. How often do we compare our lives without defining what success or fulfillment truly means?

At the time, I was grappling with my own feelings of inadequacy, wondering if time was slipping away from me to leave a lasting mark on the world. But God, in His divine timing, often uses conversations like these to shift our focus.

The Heartbreaking Confession

Later that evening, as my husband and I prepared for dinner, we paused to call our children at home. That’s when the woman asked me a question that changed everything.

“How many kids do you have?” she asked.

“Twelve,” I replied.

Her initial shock gave way to sadness. Tears filled her eyes as she shared the grief of losing her biological ability to have children while pursuing her career. In that moment, her carefully curated life—so full of achievements—felt incomplete.

We cried together before she composed herself and returned to her dinner party. That conversation lingered with me for days. It wasn’t about motherhood alone; it was about the deep ache of losing something sacred in the pursuit of success.

Explore more on fulfillment in The Busy Girl’s Code for practical tools to build and script a fulfilling life. Connection, purpose, and community—these ancient markers—cannot be replaced without consequence.

When we stray too far from these foundational truths, we end up building lives that feel shallow, no matter how impressive they may look on the surface.

The antidote? Return to the ancient stones.

How to Build a Fulfilled Life

Living a life of dominion doesn’t mean choosing wealth over relationships or career over connection. It means building a balanced life where dreams and relationships coexist. Here are some key takeaways to consider:

Pause and Reflect: Ask yourself, What would I regret missing out on if I ran out of time? Focus on these things first.
Reclaim Connection: Nurture relationships with the people who matter most.
Define Success: Align your goals with values that money, fame, and status can’t replace.
Anchor to Purpose: Stay tethered to the things that give your life meaning and depth.

Your Call to Action

The answer to a life well-lived may not be found in endless pursuit but in protecting what truly matters: relationships, purpose, and joy.

Put down your phone. Turn off the TV. Hold your loved ones longer. Savor the present. Whatever you do, don’t move the ancient stones set by those who came before us. Their wisdom still holds true today and will continue to guide future generations toward real happiness and fulfillment.

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: AncientWisdom, BuildingAWellLivedLife, FaithAndFulfillment, FulfillmentAndAbundance, TimelessValues

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