This article represents the quest for balance in our lives. Balance between our relationships, finances, health, spirituality, just to name a few. To be in perfect harmony and balance is quite impossible. However for the people who aspire to get as close as possible as often as possible, happiness is always within their reach. I am writing this article just after New Years so it will have with it a flavor of goal setting but really I’ll be exposing you to my favorite authors and their specialties. Following their work will lead you down the right path.
As another year has come and gone; it can be a difficult time for most. At the very least, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and more often than not, worrying about the one that is now upon us. Did we meet our goals? Did we even have goals? If so, then did we refer to them often enough throughout the year to insure we stayed on course? For the majority, the answers are usually: No, No and ……..NOOOOOO! If this is you, please don’t be discouraged, you are certainly in the majority, but not for long if you begin making better decisions. Please read on.
New Years for me is a mixed bag, mostly good though. I generally stay on track with my goals. Over the years I’ve learned how to set goals, implement them effectively, and keep them all in relative harmony with each other. Although there is no such thing as perfect balance in one’s life, striving for harmony inevitably always leads us, and our families, to a happier healthier place.
I start setting my New Years goals at the end of November each year (I always like to be ahead of schedule). Throughout the year I refine them and try my best to achieve them. Any positive gains I’ve been able to make over the years I owe to many fine authors, as well as my own perseverance.
Many believe you should have a certain degree of diversity in the stock market, I believe the same of education. I’d like to share with you my version of a balanced portfolio of authors and their bodies of work.
- Dr. Wayne Dyer (Read anything he has written) He will teach you what is most important in life. He will calm you and get you centered. Wayne is extremely spiritual as well. This would be my 1st stop on the author train if I were you.
- Michael Neil (hayhouseradio.com) Wonderful Personal Coach.
- Dr. Stephan Covey (Read anything he has written, especially “The7 habits of highly effective people”) Teaches you how to deal with people in the work place, build teams, build loving relationships, and how to prioritize the things in your life. He’s an incredible author.
- Anthony Robbins (Read anything he has written) He aggressively teaches you step by step how to get what you want out of life, how to set goals and stay the course.
- Michael Gerber (The E-Myth) He aggressively teaches you what a business is and isn’t.
- John Gray (Mars and Venus Series) He teaches you about personal relationships.
- Suze Ormond (9 Steps to Financial Freedom) She teaches you how to buy a house, save for a rainy day, put money away for retirement, pay off your debt and never get in debt again!
Where do you see yourself one year from now? There’s many different ways to approach this, here’s one:
Find a quiet comfortable place and turn off the phone. Either at your computer or paper and pen…. Breakdown the areas of your life into 5 sections: Financial, Physical, Mental/Education, Emotional, and Spiritual. Start thinking about what you’d like to accomplish in each of these areas, then prioritize them. If you have a significant other, involve him or her, even your children. After all, everything you do and don’t do, influences them as well.
Warning; be careful not to set a goal that could adversely affect another of your goals or area of your life.
For Example: Choosing to work that extra day each week to make the extra money to pay down your debt might make sense and help you to achieve a financial goal, but if it’s for too long a period of time, your relationship with your spouse and/or children could greatly suffer, thus causing even more challenges than before. So, enlist their help and understanding.
Always look for multiple ways to achieve each goal and solve each challenge, instead of just going with the first one that pops into you head. Allow yourself a trial and error period in order to get clear as to what goals would suit you and your family best, as well as the best ways to obtain them.
- Begin reading (by the way, just about every book is available in audio form either in stores or to download from ITUNES.com). Download them onto your ipod and keep it with you at all times. The 6 authors above are a great start. Start by choosing an area of your life that may need your immediate attention. Most people go straight to the financial area, which may not be the best place to start. As long as your bills are being paid on-time, I would start with Wayne Dyer, Stephan Covey or John Gray. If your finances are a mess and your spending habits need attention then pick up Suze’s book. You get the idea!
- Go to Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com and check out what the literary world has to offer. Read some excerpts from books online and choose one that best suits you. Or even better, choose one that doesn’t
A popular quote:
“We all have the same 24hours in each day, what we choose to do with that time is what makes all the difference”
“Make this year the best year you’ve ever had! It’s all by design!!”
Steven Arecco is available for lecturing on a multitude of business and personal development topics. Those topics can be found at www.stevenarecco.com. Apart from his time on stage, Steven is happy to support the event with any social or other interactions such as dinners or group activities. Steven will do everything within his ability to contribute to the success of your event, every time.
