This week, I’d like to shine a spotlight on Karen Fritz whom  I recently interviewed on Push the Reset Button.  In our interview, she shared some very philosophical thoughts.  She also gave me some nuts-and-bolts, how-do-you-survive-in-a-tough economy kind of advice.  Frankly, it’s too much to cover in one blog post.  So let me pass on to you just one thing–one very important thing–in detail.  It is her secret to fulfillment.

Then I’ll list out some of the other topics we covered to whet your appetite for listening to the show.

Now for that one important thing.  Many of us think it comes from sources outside of us.  Either from business or personal achievement, from our life partners and families, from community service, or from any number of other outside sources.  But Karen offers a totally new vision of fulfillment that relates to our deepest selves.  And she shared how to identify it and work toward that fulfillment.

For Karen, true fulfillment comes from giving your gift.  What is that?  Your gift is a special something you bring into this world.  It is the way you touch people or better your environment.  It is an intuition you have, a skill, an ability, or a knowledge.  It is innate to you, although it can be developed and improved.  And when you give it, you feel fulfilled.  You probably have given it many times in your life without even knowing it.

Here’s an example: there are managers in every company, but each one is unique.  How are you special?  Maybe your gift is inspiring your staff to give their all in ways others can’t.  You have a deep understanding of the value of your company’s product or service.  You also have an intuitive sense of what drives each of your employees.  Bringing these together, you have an uncanny ability to motivate.  And you love doing it!  This is your gift, and you are giving it when you energize others to succeed.

Or maybe your gift is crossing t’s and dotting i’s.  You feel good when you are able to identify problems and fix them.  You notice every imperfection, and because of this, you keep things ship-shape at home and at work.  This is your gift, and you are giving it when you make sure every detail is taken care of.

Karen suggests that this is the secret to fulfillment.

But many of us don’t know what our gifts are, so we have not created or taken advantage of opportunities to give them.  In times when we have given our gifts, we may not even have realized it.

But how can we find out if we are giving our gifts?  Karen Fritz suggests that the answer lies in our bodies.  She recommends taking a minute on a regular basis to examine how our bodies feel.  If we are not feeling fulfilled, there will be points of tightness in the body.  We may have a clenched throat or contracted abdomen.  Or we may have tightness in the neck and shoulders or even be clenching our fists.  These are our emotions telling us they are not happy.  Do this exercise regularly and notice the situations.  It will help you figure out if you are feeling fulfilled or not, and in what circumstances.

And if not, how do we discover what gift we can give?  Our examinations of our bodily feelings are one clue–they will reveal in many different situations what feels good and what doesn’t.

Another way is to talk with 10 people who know us well and whose opinions we respect.  Ask them, “What do you like or admire about me?  What do you receive from me in the deepest sense?”

The answers you get will be surprisingly informative.  Surprising not only in how much people will be able to tell you, but also in what they say.  Often, our gift is something we give naturally without even realizing we are making an important impact.

But once we know what our gift is, we will be able to create and take advantage of opportunities to give it.  Whether that is at home, in our communities, or in our workplaces.  Whether it involves personal achievement, service, or neither.  Whether it means that we refashion the way we work or even change careers.

And in doing so, we will take major steps toward our own fulfillment as we bring something new and wonderful into the world.

So please take a few minutes on a regular basis to check in with your body.  It will tell you whether you are giving your gift or not.  And talk with your friends who know you well.

If you want a hand with the process, you may want to talk to Karen.  She is a successful businesswoman and awakening coach.  You can find her on the web at http://www.iam-awakening.com.

As I mentioned, we covered a lot of stuff in our interview.  I would definitely recommend taking a listen to Karen’s intervew and to the others in the archive.   Here’s what you’ll find:

1. How even positive thinking can prevent you from achieving happiness;
2. Why the 5-year business plan is dead;
3. Characteristics of the new economy: connectedness, cooperation, and social responsibility;
4. The necessity of innovation and how to know what is coming next;
5. The value of self-care.

Here’s to your happiness and fulfillment!