“Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. So they know the value of things, not the price.” – Unknown

We want our children to be successful, secure, and self-sufficient. But what if we aimed even higher? What if the greatest gift we could give them isn’t just preparation for a good career—but the tools and mindset to lead a truly fulfilling life?

Fulfillment is about more than achievement. It’s about purpose, passion, relationships, and joy that span the entire journey of life. And with lifespans extending well into the 90s and beyond, thanks to increasing longevity (as highlighted by theStanford Center on Longevity), it’s more important than ever to raise children who know how to live intentionally—not just for a job or a few decades, but for the long haul.

The Age Brilliantly mindset teaches us that a 100-year life is full of opportunities to grow, give, connect, and reinvent ourselves. But that doesn’t just happen—it must be taught, modeled, and nurtured.

Why Teaching Fulfillment Matters More Than Ever

AHarvard study on human development that’s tracked participants for over 80 years found that strong relationships and purpose—not wealth or status—are the biggest predictors of lifelong well-being.

Yet most kids are taught how to chase grades, get into college, and find a job—not how to develop a life of meaning. If we want the next generation to thrive across all life stages, we must start teaching them how to think about fulfillment early on.

“Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” – W.E.B. Du Bois

How to Help Your Kids Lead a Fulfilled Life

1. Help Them Discover Their Values Early
 Fulfillment begins with living according to your core values. Help your kids identify what matters to them—not just what looks good on paper.

Use the freeThink2Perform Values Tool with older kids or teens to explore their top guiding values. Discuss the importance of aligning choices—friendships, goals, activities—with those values.

2. Model What Fulfillment Looks Like
 The best way to teach is to live by example. Let your children see you making time for what matters: nurturing relationships, pursuing passions, prioritizing health, or contributing to your community.

Share your reflections openly: “I’m saying no to this project because I want more time with family,” or “Volunteering gives my life meaning.” These small moments show them how to prioritize fulfillment.

3. Ask the Right Questions—Early and Often
 Instead of just asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” try:

• “What makes you feel proud?”
• “When do you feel most like yourself?”
• “What kind of life do you want to create?”

Questions like these build self-awareness—one of the strongest predictors of long-term well-being, according to research fromHarvard Business Review.

4. Encourage Purpose, Not Just Performance
 Help kids explore ways to contribute—at school, at home, or in the community. Even small acts of service build confidence, empathy, and purpose. Try volunteering together throughVolunteerMatch or doing community projects as a family.

Dr. William Damon of Stanford, author of The Path to Purpose, emphasizes that kids who connect their activities to a bigger “why” show higher levels of motivation, mental health, and success.

5. Teach Time Mastery Over Busyness
 Kids today are overwhelmed with packed schedules. Teach them to prioritize what energizes and fulfills them—not just what earns praise. UseToggl orMyLifeOrganized with teens to show how to track time and create space for rest, reflection, and passion.

6. Nurture Lifelong Learning and Curiosity
 Fulfillment thrives when we’re growing. Encourage your children to be curious learners—not just for school, but for life. Sites likeKhan Academy andCoursera allow them to explore interests from art to science to entrepreneurship.

7. Make Emotional Intelligence a Daily Conversation
 Fulfillment also requires inner strength: knowing how to manage emotions, handle failure, and build strong relationships. Use tools likeGoZen orHeadspace for Kids to teach emotional awareness, mindfulness, and resilience.

Tools to Help Kids and Teens Build a Life of Purpose

• FutureMe: Have your child write a letter to their future self about the kind of person they want to become
• Happify: Activities that boost positivity and well-being through science-backed games
• Notion: Create a life dashboard to track goals, routines, and reflections
• Day One: Private journaling tool to build self-awareness and gratitude habits
• TED-Ed: Inspiring short videos on purpose, growth, and self-development

Your Children’s Fulfillment Begins With You

“Your legacy is every life you’ve touched.” – Maya Angelou

You don’t need to have it all figured out to be a powerful guide. Simply living with intention, being open about your journey, and encouraging thoughtful reflection sets the stage for your children to design lives they love—through every phase of a 100-year life.

So ask yourself:
 What values and habits am I modeling for the next generation?
 How can I support my child in crafting their own version of a fulfilling life?
 What legacy of purpose and possibility do I want to pass on?

Join the conversation and share your ideas in theforum.