This Is What Finally Made Me Feel Fulfilled

Imagine a life where you wake up and—without even thinking about it—you’re grateful.

You feel excitement buzzing in your chest before your feet even hit the floor.

You start your day joyful and driven. You feel alive.

I’m lucky enough to say that, most days, that’s the life I’ve built for myself.

When I wake up, I cannot wait for my day. I’m smiling just writing about it.

This may lead you to ask: 

What’s my secret?

It’s not what you have been fed online.

It’s not some rigid morning routine.

It’s not getting rich or shredded.

And it’s definitely not “work-life balance.”

My secret is that I stopped trying to jump straight from where I am to where I want to be—and started embracing where I actually am NOW.

I realized something that changed everything:

The journey is the goal.

“What!?”

It’s not just a cute phrase on a coffee mug. It’s the only way to actually enjoy your life while you’re living it.

Now, I get that this might sound idealistic or hard to apply. You’ve probably heard something like it before, nodded along, and kept chasing the next thing anyway.

Same.

But there’s a reason for that.

From the time we could say “Mommy,” we were conditioned to associate happiness with outcomes:

• You got a toy car when you finally pooped in the toilet (at least I did; is that just a me thing)

• You got an allowance when you mowed the lawn.

• You got praise for good grades, awards for achievements.

• You even got money when you lost a tooth! (thanks tooth fairy)

We were taught to delay joy—to earn it.

But life doesn’t work like that. The only guaranteed outcome in life is death—and I doubt (at least I hope) any of us see that as the grand prize.

So what happens? We start living for the “next thing”:

• I’ll be happy when I land the job.

• I’ll be fulfilled when I hit six figures.

• I’ll feel alive when I finally “make it.”

I know I STILL say things to myself like that.

But none of those things will ever give you what you’re looking for if you don’t know how to feel it now.

The truth?

In life and the pursuit of joy, you are never rewarded after the fact. Life’s real rewards—peace, clarity, meaning—come when you choose to be fully present with where you are, no matter how backwards that may seem to you.

And when you embrace that, everything changes.

You stop rushing, you start listening, and you feel alive.

I promise you this journey is worth it. I promise.

If you are reading this right now and doubt your ability to give up your attachment to success, I understand.

No matter how much I teach about this subject, I’ll admit, it’s a battle that never ends.

I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth.

I’m rooting for you.

🎙 The Grateful Podcast

I host a podcast where I sit down with incredible thinkers, creators, and change-makers to explore how to live with more gratitude, purpose, and ambition.

• Monday → A solo episode where I share the raw lessons I’m learning in real-time.

• Wednesday & Saturday → Conversations with guests who are chasing meaningful lives and doing what they love.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

🌱 1-on-1 Gratitude Coaching

If you’re chasing a dream and feel stuck, burnt out, or unsure of your next move—this is for you.

I work with two different client profiles:

1. I guide ambitious young people to help them find clarity, take action, and live with more gratitude along the way.

2. I help burnt out, established CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs ground in presence so can start optimizing for a life that feels good on the inside and doesn’t just look good from afar.

It’s not therapy. It’s not life coaching.

It’s a real conversation about who you want to become—grounded in purpose and built on action.

🔗 Book a free 15-minute call

Email me at [email protected] to get scheduled.

Thank you for reading.

Keep showing up. Keep dreaming big.

I’ll see you next week.

With gratitude,

Jack