I've spent too much time writing for someone else, and can't believe how long it's been since I've written here. My apologies to everyone for not taking care of my own business here. The ezine is up and doing well, and now I can let my mind drift.
For better or worse, my mind keeps returning to wellness. By definition: the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal. Everyone has their own idea of what wellness is, and I have my own as well. For me, wellness is not only good health, but being free of the stress and worry that lead to illness, and all that entails.
Wellness is a way of life. I don't just exercise, eat right, and be done with it. I look at my life and decide not only what I want it to look like, but what I want it to feel like. How do I do that? I talk to myself, of course! Mostly, I ask questions...they're how I know I'm actively seeking wellness. It's the answers that tell me if I'm on the right track. Questions like: What hours do I work? How much time do I spend with my family? What forms of exercise should I pursue? Do I need to spend more time working on my goals or working toward them? Is my business where I want it, or do I need to make some changes? Am I living within my budget? Is my budget working for me?
Those are just a few...so you can see, I talk to myself a lot. I just try not to do it in public too often.
I try to keep my focus at least somewhat balanced. I don't look at only one area of my life. Usually 2 or 3 questions about different parts of my life will lead to self-assessment. No, I don't take a test, or make it a major work. I usually take a look at my journal and can see where my focus has been.
Knowing when to make a change isn't always easy. When it's obvious, I'm always sure what to do. But when something just doesn't feel right...when I'm feeling stressed, or more worried than usual about little things, I may have to dig. Or go to a friend, coach, or business associate. We aren't always the best person to see ourselves clearly, and I try to remind myself of that. Especially when I'm hearing something I don't want to.
Before you find yourself off-track, I suggest you try journaling. Spend some time letting it all out on paper. It doesn't have to be fancy...I just use an inexpensive spiral bound notebook. Write your worries, your ideas, your struggles—in business and your personal life—empty your thoughts onto paper. But don't stop there. Spend a few moments reviewing your day. Note your accomplishments, special acknowledgements, or anything you see that took extra effort on your part. I also think it's a good idea to remind yourself of what you're grateful for. Little or big, doesn't matter. Everyone has a reason to be grateful. And those last two acts can help bring your thinking around to something you might be missing, or something you hadn't even realized you're doing that's working.
Wellness isn't an ideal or even a destination. Remember the definition. It's an active state of seeking. So start seeking.
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