“To achieve some level of balance, we should attempt, in any 24-hour period, to address our emotional, mental, spiritual and physical needs. Consider your satisfaction in all of these areas. While nurturing and maintaining this balance can be difficult, self-questioning will ensure that at least your thinking is balanced. As long as you remind yourself daily of your need for balance, you probably won’t stray too far from it.
In terms of balancing your life, consider the following questions:
- Do you usually get six to eight hours of quality sleep each night?
- Do you allow yourself time to touch nature each week, no matter how briefly?
- Do you get some kind of fun exercise each week?
- Do you do something fun at least once a week?
- Are you happy with your sex life?
- Do you give and receive hugs on a regular basis?
- Do you have people who you can honestly talk to and who will listen to you?
- Do you take reasonable risks and seek new experiences?
- Do you ask for what you need?
- Do you forgive yourself when you make a mistake?
- Do you reward yourself for your accomplishments?
- Do you trust yourself?
- Do you do things that give you a sense of purpose, meaning and joy?
- Do you try to live in the moment?
- Do you laugh at least once a day?
- Do you make time for your friends?
- Do you make time for solitude?
- Do you make time for daily or weekly spiritual nourishment?
The first step toward balancing our lives begins when we attempt to connect with ourselves. This is actually a lifelong quest. To begin this journey, however, we must at some point begin to lovingly and honestly take a look at ourselves. In this retrospective process, we should examine who we are, what is meaningful for us, who we want to be and how we can get there.”
Source: Wilson, K.J. When Violence Begins at Home. Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1997
