By examining our levels of fulfilment, inspiration, success and happiness (FISH), we can identify what promotes our internal wellbeing. We can make our foundations strong and learn to care for what is most important.
In calculating your FISH score, I have developed the following questionnaire:
- On a scale of 1-10, how much fulfilment did you experience today?
- How did you live your purpose today?
- How much inspiration did you feel today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were you inspired to think, create, do or be today?
- How successful did you think today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were your most outstanding achievements today?
- How happy did you feel today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were you most grateful for today?
Your FISH score is generally a ‘moment in time’, and the questions above provide the context for framing your most recent day. However, wellbeing is lifelong. Therefore, ideally, find value in creating a habit and tracking these in a journal, diary or in The Joy of Finding FISH app to see your scores over overextended periods. Alternatively, you can substitute ‘today’ in the questions above with ‘this week’, ‘this month’ or ‘this year’. What becomes incredibly insightful is the answers to the open-ended questions. Then, you begin to build a picture of what activities, moments, and experiences contribute to your feelings of fulfilment, inspiration, success and happiness. Wellbeing can be simple. If an action brings you a desirable sense (FISH experience), do it repeatedly until the frequency ruins the texture. It has amazed me how the most straightforward, most peaceful days can be a source of an 8:8:8:8 or higher day, just by being consciously aware and grateful for everyday experiences.
As you read the questions above, what is your FISH score right now? When was the last time you scored a ’10’ on any FISH items? If you use this tool as a heartbeat throughout the year, can you identify the highs and the lows?
Measuring Wellbeing: Finding FISH (Fulfilment, inspiration, success & happiness)
By examining our individual levels of fulfilment, inspiration, success and happiness (FISH), we can identify what promotes our internal wellbeing. We can make our foundations strong and learn to tend to what is most important.
While these definitions seem somewhat arbitrary, they are valuable in determining how to assess and calculate your FISH score based on the following questions:
- On a scale of 1-10, how much fulfilment did you experience today?
- How did you live your purpose today?
- How much inspiration did you feel today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were you inspired to think, create, do or be today?
- How successful did you think today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were your most outstanding achievements today?
- How happy did you feel today on a scale of 1-10?
- What were you most grateful for today?
Your FISH score is generally a ‘moment in time’, and the questions above provide the context for framing your most recent day.
However, wellbeing is lifelong. Therefore, ideally, find value in creating a habit and tracking these in a journal, diary or in The Joy of Finding FISH app to see your scores over overextended periods. Alternatively, you can substitute ‘today’ in the questions above with ‘this week’, ‘this month’ or ‘this year’. What becomes incredibly insightful is the answers to the open-ended questions. Then, you begin to build a picture of what activities, moments, and experiences contribute to your feelings of fulfilment, inspiration, success and happiness. Wellbeing can be simple. If an action brings you a desirable sense (FISH experience), do it repeatedly until the frequency ruins the texture. It has amazed me how the most straightforward, most peaceful days can be a source of an 8:8:8:8 or higher day, just by being consciously aware and grateful for everyday experiences.
As you read the questions above, what is your FISH score right now? When was the last time you scored a ’10’ on any FISH items? If you use this tool as a heartbeat throughout the year, can you identify the highs and the lows?
Finding FISH over time
The process of wellbeing in finding and creating FISH is more of an art than a science and can change dramatically over time. For example, our tumultuous teenage years may express FISH in a particular order or with one flavour. In contrast, later years as a parent or grandparent may shift the demand and how we experience FISH.
Based on the permutations of FISH, you can use 24 different sequences to explain the order in which individuals pursue fulfilment, inspiration, success, success, and happiness. Importantly, there is no ‘correct’ order, or every order is correct for its time and place.
- FISH, FIHS, FSIH, FSHI, FHIS, FHSI
- IFSH, IFHS, ISFH, ISHF, IHSF, IHFS
- SFIH, SFHI, SIFH, SIHF, SHFI, SHIF
- HFSI, HFIS, HIFS, HISF, HSIF, HSFI
Both in my life and those of my clients, the experience and expression of FISH changes throughout circumstances. For example, during my younger years of academics, sports and the early stages of my business career, I led with the pursuit of success. However, this is not the epitome of wellbeing, as we all know. Consequently, I often derive happiness, inspiration and fulfilment from that success. My lack of understanding of my purpose and how to experience satisfaction was so raw that I am confident that my FISH pattern looked more like SIH or SHI, with little or no fulfilment. My experience of inspiration and happiness came THROUGH my pursuit and achievement of success, rather than the other way around. Rarely did I do things’ just because’, but nearly always in search of higher achievement, accolades or rewards.
Wellbeing in Practice
Fast forward 20 years and my FISH pattern in wellbeing has fundamentally changed. My mental health crisis, soul searching, and re-connection to my sense of purpose have moved fulfilment to become my lead FISH element. All four remain important to me, but the order I seek each has changed with time. My many years of leading with success were a testing ground. I can now derive a great deal of self-assurance from which I can now. I know that success (and happiness/inspiration) flows when centered within my purpose.
The pursuit of FISH is different for every individual. Our unique character is filled with needs and wants that boost overall wellbeing. A FISH score may surprise you. Even on the best of days, you might still see a gap in reflections. It is all part of refining what is fulfilling to us as individuals. For many of us, influenced by external factors, an ideal way to look or feel is usually coupled with one of the millions of diet/fitness plans. It could be an assumption that “living a healthy lifestyle” is the assumed theme of “happiness”. However, on reflection, it might be fulfilled by certain sports, shared with others, and the review of creating a healthier lifestyle holistically.
Finding FISH might be better described as ‘choosing FISH’ – choose wisely!
