The 5 F’s For a Fulfilling Life

I interviewed Rob Kosberg on the Morning Upgrade Podcast, and he talked about the framework he follows for his life. It got me thinking about the very similar framework I have for my own life and that I should share it here…so I wanted to do a quick blog to touch on the different elements included in hopes that you will be inspired to create your own life framework. 

In a nutshell, when I think about going through life, to me, the whole goal is to be fulfilled and to create an impact.

The different goal-setting components of Rob’s framework all started with “F” so we’ll stick with that because it’s easy to remember and it’s catchy. My goal with this blog post is to inspire you to create your own life framework.

You can look at your own life framework and think of whatever core values you find easy to remember. For the sake of my post here, I’ll be referring to “The 5 F’s for a fulfilling life.” And on that note, here are my 5 F’s for living a fulfilling life!

1. Fitness

The first of the five F’s is Fitness. Nothing in life matters if you don’t have your health. I was reminded of this fact when I pulled my back recently while changing a flat tire. For a solid week, I was in pain and unable to do my normal routines. And what I was able to do took me a lot longer. It reminded me that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. 

The best approach to good health is to invest in prevention which is why I do things every day to be healthier. Physical fitness is a preventative measure…not that it guarantees good health, but it is a good step in the right direction. 

I’ve made fitness a part of my morning routine and throughout my day. It’s important to me to exercise and move as much as I can every day. Taking care of my body helps me take care of my mental health, which helps me in my professional life, and in my personal life. Also, good nutrition is key because it gives your body the building blocks it needs to be healthy. 

2. Family and Friends

Family and Friends is the second of my five F’s. I talk a lot on this blog about the importance of relationships. Relationships are the ultimate reason we do most of what we do in life. The most important relationships we have in life are with our family and friends. Creating experiences with them and spending time with them will lead to a happier life. Personally, I feel happiest when I’ve had a weekend or week with my family or friends. 

For example, going on the road trip checked all the boxes on this because I was able to have new experiences with the people I love. It was very fulfilling for me, my wife, and our girls. 

As a slightly introverted and awkward person, I have to make a conscious effort to be intentional with my relationships, such as the ones in my professional life, and in reaching out to family and friends. It’s important to create a life where you won’t be alone in the end. I know it takes work and time, but it’s worth it. 

3. Faith 

Faith is the third of the five F’s. This one was a little hard to write because I’m sure most people think faith is going to church, and I don’t go to church. My background in faith is Catholicism, but I’m not a practicing Catholic. I believe in God, and I consider myself to be a spiritual person, so I make it a priority to consume spiritual content. 

I consider spiritual content to be information that helps you to better understand your mind, feelings, and spirituality to an extent. Until the last few years, this wasn’t content that I would typically consume. But I have made it a goal, and now it has become a priority. 

Some of the content I’m enjoying most is on optimize.me. There’s a lot of quality content on that platform. Also, I belong to a faith-based Mastermind, Iron Sharpens Iron, which has helped me to keep spirituality at the forefront of my mind. 

I believe that faith, however you define it, is part of having a well-rounded, fulfilling life. 

4. Fun 

Fun…it’s been a topic on my mind a lot lately. As one of the five F’s, you’d think this would be an exciting one to talk about. I don’t talk about it much on this blog, but I think I will in the future. Statistically, my life is halfway over, and it’s causing me to really look around at what I am doing with my time. I work a lot (which I enjoy), but I’m also here to have fun. 

One thing to realize, my definition of fun may look different than yours, but it’s important to do things in your week that you enjoy. 

For me, the road trip I took last year with my family was a lot of fun. I want to have more of those kinds of experiences which is why we planned another road trip for this summer. Another thing I like to do is spend time with my wife Jill, watching NetFlix together and drinking wine. Family vacations, seeing friends, eating out…I could go on, but the point here is I’m making having fun more of a priority. 

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so having fun experiences now with those you love is important. They’ll always be able to look back and remember those times with you. Jill and I are trying to give our kids the best life we feasibly can. Part of that is me working hard, but the other part is me trying to pepper in things that are fun. 

5. Finance

The final of my five F’s is finance. Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does make things easier. It enables you to do things, have experiences, and give back to others. 

Working hard and earning money has allowed us to give our kids (and ourselves) experiences. It’s allowed me to invest in my education and the education of my family. My family life is everything to me, and I desperately hope my loved ones can see how important it is to me to build relationships, just enjoy life, and live in the moment! The good times, the not-so-good times, and everything in between.

Also, I’ve placed a priority on running The Morning Upgrade because it’s my passion impact project. The site costs money to run, and it also takes time. But the mission I’m on is important to me, and I’m thankful to have the finances in place to make it happen. 

Spending is not the only thing you should do with your finances, of course. Saving is important, too, so that you can have a fun, comfortable retirement. This will take hard work–investing in yourself, and doing the best with your career or business that you can. 

The bottom line is that putting a plan in place for your finances and future is essential. But these are just my thoughts, the 5 F’s for a fulfilling life to me. You may have different titles, different categories, and different standards for your fulfilling life. And that’s okay. This is merely a blog to help get you thinking about your life.

The other thing to keep in mind is that it’s not too late to start a business if that’s the path you choose. Think about Colonel Sanders…he didn’t make it big with KFC until he was in his mid-60s. There’s always time to put a plan in place if you’re willing to work hard. 

Key Takeaways 

• Make fitness and nutrition a part of your daily life.
• Make relationships a priority and invest in them. 
• Consume spiritual content.
• Spend time having fun and creating experiences. 
• Find ways to earn more money, to save, and to spend.