Economic Stress Impacts Priorities

Since last fall we have been inundated with fear-based and negative media regarding the economy here and abroad. I see clients struggling with making decisions about how to best prioritize both their own physical well-being and their financial well-being.

I have talked about this before in previous blog postings, but time and again I run into this struggle. What can we do? Both are so important, yet our financial well-being seems to always take precedence. And why wouldn’t it? The reality of the situation is we need to pay bills and put a little money away for the future; you know, those rainy days which seem to be looming closer than we ever imagined. We have also discussed the balancing act and how to focus on certain elements, but we keep getting pulled off course and the wind seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to filling our sails to support our forward movement.

Here is an activity for you to do over the course of the next few days. Visit this link and print off the Life Balance Assessment. Using this tool can support you in identifying which area is consuming too much of your time and which area is being left behind. Doing this exercise on a regular basis can support you to embracing a better balance.

So you did this, but what is next? Great question! Take a look at the segment that's causing you the most stress and consuming the most time. Now identify which area is receiving the least amount of your attention. Ask yourself if there is one small thing you can do in the next five days to bring more focus on the segment being neglected. What you do doesn’t have to be huge; it can be as small as taking an extra five-minute walk while getting the mail, or it can be replacing the soda you have with lunch with a healthier choice. Or it can simply be putting up a small reminder notice on your computer monitor with the word “smile” written on it to remind you to smile even when life seems difficult.

One of the keys to reducing your stress when the economy is wearing you down is to identify small but tangible steps you can take to be in better control. We know we can not be in control of the majority events in our lives, but when we can identify any area at all and make one small positive change you can actually provide the sense of being in control of our destinies better than focusing on an area over which we truly have no control.

My recommendation to each of you is to take a few moments this week to identify which areas are being neglected and which areas are pulling too much from you. This knowledge is more powerful than you may think. Remember, I am always available to support you as you transition in life, so embrace your inner wisdom and take your first step toward better balance.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen