The Start Of It All
Are you happy with your life? When someone asked me that question, I immediately knew the answer was a definite “NO!” But then, that person asked me a question that changed my life. He said…”Why not?”
Boy, if that doesn’t call for some serious soul-searching, I don’t know what would!
I had a good job, 2 great kids, a husband who loved me, faith in God…what more could I want? For goodness’ sake, why wasn’t I happy???
So I asked myself, “Self, what is making you unhappy? And since you say you’re not happy, what would it take to make you happy?” After months and months of work, a lot of research, learning from the people who I consider to be successful, working with a couple of awesome coaches, and extensive (and often painful) soul searching, I came up with a list…well, actually, I came up with a chart, but I’m just going to give you the list of what I thought would make me happy. Check it out:
- I have a very strong, close, personal relationship with God.
- I participate actively in my Church.
- I have an absolutely AMAZING marriage, full of love, fun, and support.
- I am a great wife, and my husband is proud of me.
- I am a terrific mom and my kids brag about me.
- I have a few very close friends who love and count on me as much as I love and count on them.
- I also have some friends who are fun to just hang out with.
- I am totally confident in social situations.
- I own a business which has given my family true financial freedom.
- I am fit and trim and satisfied with my body.
- I eat right and exercise.
- I volunteer with organizations who share my beliefs.
- I have a beautifully organized home that is easy to keep uncluttered.
- I travel the world with my husband/family.
- I am fluent in 10 languages (I don’t know why I picked 10, it seemed reasonable at the time).
- I am a gourmet chef.
- I am a “good enough to compete” ballroom dancer.
- I learn something new every day.
My first reaction when I finished this exercise was “I’m not Superwoman!” That was my second reaction, too. And the third. And…well, you get the idea.
Anyway, I spent a lot of time reading up on time management and goal-setting, and “You can do anything you want” self-help/motivational books and articles. And I finally discovered something that opened my eyes…I CAN be and do all of those things. There is a way, and it’s not all that hard. I had found the key to making my life full, rich and fulfilling. Can you guess what it is?
OK, I’ll tell you. Are you ready? Here it comes…
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” – Thomas Merton
“Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being” – Orison Swett Marden
“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” -Robert Fulghum
Did you catch that? The key was in all three of those quotes. In order to have a happy life, you must achieve balance! Balance between all areas of your life: work, relationships, recreation, spirituality, and personal development. To achieve the balance, you must be willing to get fit: physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially.
There are tons of books and articles and tools out there to help you develop all aspects of fitness and achieve balance in your life; some have been helpful to me, others not so much. This site will introduce some of tools I’ve found to help me maintain balance in my life as well as some of the products I’ve developed to help people like you.
Take some time and look around, and feel free to leave me a comment if there’s anything in particular you need help with right now.
