How do you encourage people
to keep up the "discipline" or motivation that balance
requires?
Motivation, like a
thermometer, goes up and down. When it goes up, you’re fine. When it
drops, you need reminders that inspire you. The two most powerful I suggest
are journaling and coaching. For instance, I ask clients to journal their
purpose; goal and vision for staying motivated when the tough times hit.
They write what makes it worth it while they’re "high on life"
and feeling good about themselves. (Too many people only record the
negative emotions and challenges in life.) Some clients are asked to record
their comments if they don’t like to write. This resource can be used as
a recharge when motivation wanes.
Coaching is a powerful tool
for staying motivated because of the accountability. Having someone feed
back to you the reasons you gave for being committed to balance can make
all the difference in the world. For many people, trying to find balance
can feel like a solo act. Everyone is so busy, there doesn’t seem to be
the additional energy and time from friends and family to encourage,
brainstorm and challenge others to stick with their dream/vision of
balance.
The other important reminder
along the way, is small choices make each day, make a BIG difference. That
saying you were referring to is on the cover of my LifeStyle journal; "Every
choice you make today brings you closer or further from your goals, where
did your choices take you today?"
How do you do it in your own
life?
I remain accountable to
others. I don’t ask if I’m in the mood to exercise, take my quiet time
or prioritize for the day. It’s like washing my face when I get up, it’s
a necessity to stay on track and I know it – in my bones. I allow
certain gremlins to encourage vs. discourage me.
I remain flexible, few days
go as planned.
I do the best I can each day
and look to let the rest go.
I pray a lot for direction,
patience, wisdom and courage.
I ask what will be the more
important outcome in the long run?
I said life is a series of
trade-offs. You can find the time to do what you really want-if you’re
willing to give something else up. We have more options in life than we
have time to live all at once. What’s interesting to me though is, when I
give something up now for something I value or need more of now, it’s
amazing how often time brings it back in and it fits perfectly into my
life.
My goal is to lower peoples’
tolerance for imbalance in life.
"I
hear so many people lament that they can’t take care of themselves
because they don’t have time. They don’t have time because their
company requires so much. There’s always something outside themselves
blocking them from progress. How do you help people move past that?
We sound like victims. We
have choices. To live the life you want, the way you want, you have to (and
I rarely say "have to") take responsibility for your choices.
Every day you neglect your needs, whether physical, financial, spiritual or
interpersonal, you pay a price. The price may not appear large now, but at
some point it will. Right now, the price might be headaches, arguments,
longings, frequent colds, back aches, missed deadlines, insomnia or a lack
of energy or fulfillment in life. You can live with that and plod along.
However, at some point the heart attach, diabetes, divorce, downsizing,
broken friendship or panic disorder will knock you off your feet and
require the major adjustments that minor ones along the way could have
helped you avoid.
Yes, creating and
maintaining balance is an ongoing process. It looks different every day.
But the more you do to create or increase your energy, the better prepared
you will be to make wise choices in the moment. Every day that I plant my
feet on the floor, I resolve to life on purpose with vitality, love and
spirit guiding me through. (If I don’t take care of myself, I certainly
won’t have energy. If I don’t have energy, I’m less patient,
creative, loving and kind. If I have none of those things, the spirit has
nothing to work with and I can’t serve the way I desire to.)
Well, that’s more than a
mouthful, but I hope it helps. I guess I sound rough (We’re victims or
our own choices, not someone else’s) and hopefully, encouraging. (We can
do it with reflection, honesty and persistence.)
By the way, jobs will always
ask more from us than we will want to give. If we never say no or challenge
the system, we’ll never know what’s possible. A boss may want you to
work more, but won’t fire you for not doing it. If you take care of
yourself, you’ll be so productive and effective in the workplace,
he/she wouldn’t dream of replacing you!
Let me know what you think.
Kate
