It's important from time to time that we sit down and
honestly assess our lives. Doing so allows us to make an
honest determination about where we are now and where we
want to be in the future. When we're assessing our
finances, we prepare a financial balance sheet. On it we list
our debits and credits so that we can determine our bottom
line. What if you wanted to determine the state of the life
you lead? How is it, or is it not, serving you? The answer is
simple - prepare a Life Balance Sheet. Much like a financial
balance sheet, list all of your lifestyle debits (choices that
detract from balance) such as the following:
Maintaining relationships that drain you
Constantly whining, griping, or complaining
Inability to say no
Always expecting the worse
Being ungrateful
Unwilling to listen effectively
Forgetting to mind your manners
Taking others for granted
Next list your credits - ways you live your life that support
and honor you. Anything positive you count as a credit -
no action is too big or too small. Below are a few credits that
add to your life's bottom line.
1. Smile - not just at people you know, but especially at
those you don't
2. Give to others without expecting anything in return
3. Do one thing outside of your comfort zone that improves
the quality of your life
4. Allow someone to merge into traffic - even if they didn't
wait their turn
5. Compliment a salesperson/clerk on a job well done
6. Use the good crystal and china other than for a holiday
7. Be honest about what you need to be happy
8. Read to a child
9. Dance to your favorite music
10. Place your neighbors' newspaper right outside their door
11. Call someone just to say "hello" and to see how they are
doing
12. Buy a co-worker a cup of coffee or ice cream cone
13. Walk barefoot in the grass
14. Tell someone "I love you"
15. Learn one new thing every week
16. Every day acknowledge at least one thing in life for which
you are grateful
At least once a month, create a Life Balance Sheet. Take a
look at your Life Balance Sheet at least once a day. This will
empower you, at a glance, to realize how wonderful life can
be and allow you to make lifestyle adjustments as necessary.
Remember, a great life is yours to create. Go create a
fabulous life!
Joy Fisher-Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and
success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress
management, customer service, and team building. You can
e-mail her at mailto:jfsykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call her at
(757) 427-7032. Go to her web site,
http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for the newsletter,
OnPoint, and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and
Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional."
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