I guess that's why I have a hard time understanding when people tell me they are bored.  Bored?  Seriously?  Instead of being bored, why not take up learning something new?  You could spend an entire life devoted to astronomy and then spend another life committed to becoming an expert on literature.  You could spend decades studying history and then switch to physics.  It goes on and on. 

Recently I had a patient whose profession was purchasing fire hydrants for the city.  I hadn't even realized there was a career devoted to purchasing fire hydrants until I met him. 

No matter what field you choose to become an expert in, you choose it because it helps you fulfill a bigger life picture.  But in order for you to truly feel successful, there are four areas I believe you have to become an expert at in your own life.  These four areas are the common thread that ties each of our lives together, regardless of our hobbies, family, interests and careers. Like the legs on a table, if one of the four is missing, your life will fall. 

The four areas are:

1. Health: 
When you are sick, that feeling trumps everything else, so you must become an expert on your personal health.  Becoming an expert on health does not mean you need to become a medical professional, but it does mean you need to be able to make wise and informed decisions about your and your family's health. If you haven't done so already, start by creating a personal health plan. 

2. Wealth: 
We live in a world where money is used as a means of exchange.  We are judged on our financial statements, our credit scores, our bank accounts, etc...  While the system may not be perfect, it is imperative that you become an expert on your own wealth if you want to live a truly fulfilled life.  Unfortunately, becoming a wealth expert is not something taught in schools.  So it is up to you to develop a wealth plan for you and your family.

3. Relationships: 
What good would it do you to be healthy and rich if you had no one to share it with?  The most fulfilling and devastating things in our lives often have to do with our relationships with others. 

We are reminded of this every year in December when Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is brought to life on stages and TV screens across the globe.   Through Ebenezer Scrooge, the audience sees how pitiful and worthless life can be without good relationships, even when a person has accumulated great wealth.

It is imperative that you become an expert on managing relationships if you want to feel successful.  Learn how to surround yourself with an inner circle of good friends.  In business, surround yourself with colleagues and partners you can rely on, especially in tough times.

4. Inner Peace: 
You must have a plan for building your character, your spirit, and your self-worth.  To do this, you must have a clear understanding of where you come from, why you are here, and where you are going.  Many people master the first three areas of their life, but they never truly feel fulfilled because they do not understand their life's purpose. 

For some people, finding inner-peace comes through devotion to a religion.  For others, it comes through inner-soul searching.  And for some, it is a combination of both.  Whatever it is for you, I encourage you to become an expert on self-improvement, spirituality and character building. 

When I think about how important it is to improve this area of my life, I am often reminded of the wisdom business philosopher Jim Rohn once shared.  He said, "Work harder on yourself than you do on your job." 

Now you have my list of the four things I believe everyone must become an expert at in order to have a fulfilled life.  You can become experts in many other things if you choose, and I encourage you to do so, but I think if you ignore any of these four areas of life, you will not feel complete. 

Let me know your thoughts.  Do you agree?  Do you disagree?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section of this week's blog.