Work-Life Rebalance In 3 Simple Steps

That day I dreamed I had a "normal" life.  I remember staring out my office window at exactly 5:00 PM on a Friday evening. Happy, smiling people poured outside the building entrance and into the parking structures, ready to embrace their weekend.

I look at my overflowing in bin, and sigh. My eyes settle upon my carefully planned Day Timer as it beckons me to get back to work. I sigh again. There has to be something more to life than work! 

"Sooner or later, we all have to find a way to find a good work-life balance." says freelance writer and workplace wellness consultant Mike Martin.

"If not, we find that work takes up so much of our life that there is little time left for anything else. Or, we pay a much greater price in terms of our physical, mental, or emotional well-being."

I couldn't agree more.  I stare at the can of diet coke, and the half eaten Snickers Bar on my desk. I have a headache, my neck hurts, and I wonder why I am working so hard on all this "stuff", because on my death bed I certainly will not be thinking about my work deadlines! 

The naked awareness shakes me.  I get up, grab my coat and make a vow from that day forward to make my work my play, and to reclaim my life.

In a recent article MikeMartin shares 3 simple yet practical ways to re-balance your life and your work.  If you are currently feeling like you are all work and no play, these steps will help you to take a step back, rethink, refocus, and refresh.

Read the full article here to discover three simple lessons on work-life balance.

If you found these tips relevant - leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!


## Copyright 2014, by Dar Payment. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Your Personal Meaning of Success - What is it?

"Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." ~Arnold H. Glasow

This really is a great quote. Not only is it interesting but also inspiring.

One of the truths that I find most frustrating as a transformational spirituality teacher and a life coach, is that many people believe that success, in whatever field of endeavor they are currently striving, is rather like winning the lottery. In fact, it certainly seems from the evidence that they in fact believe that success is even more random because they aren't even buying a ticket. They are simply passively waiting.

If you listen to how people talk you won't hear many people voicing this opinion of success but look around you and watch what people are actually doing--or rather not doing--and you will quickly see what I mean.

Many people want things--they want to be rich, they want to be at the top of their profession, they want a successful marriage, they want to raise great kids, they want to be respected in their community, and so on.

You Must "Do" to Have

But what do they do to achieve this success? Are they working both hard and smart toward their financial goals and living frugally while they do so?  Are they constantly learning and striving at their job?  Are they showing their spouse love, consideration, understanding, and generosity?  Are they spending time with their children both modeling how to be a good person and being generous with their love and understanding?  Are they regularly proving themselves an asset within their community by being a good neighbor in every sense of the word?

We all know that we must accomplish these tasks and be successful in those areas, but we are also acutely aware that something is missing as well. It all come down to what success means to you.

Your Personal Definition of Success
 
So let me ask you a question.  How do you define success?

Is it money, career, love, marriage, family, friendship, respect, community?

For me, success is primarily about love. How many lives do I touch with mine? How many hearts?  Who has been changed by my existence in a positive way?

Your definition of success will also help you zero in on your personal value system - or that which you hold most sacred for your self. Your core values influence the way in which you behave, act, and how you live your life.

Define Your Meaning of Success - Write Your Own Obituary

The best way to define your meaning of success is by writing your own obituary. Over 250 years ago Alfred Nobel saw his obituary in the newspaper. His legacy?  The man who created dynamite.  The obituary was a result of faulty information, but never-the-less, Swedish Scientist Alfred Nobel took notice and  decided to create something positive that could be remembered forever - The Nobel Peace Prize!

When you write your own obituary and record how you want the world to remember you, and what skills that you contributed to make the world better place you set your Spirit on fire!  You get a clear glimpse of not only what success means to you, but also of your own unique greatness and what it is you have to share with the world.

When you are able to do this you will set not only your life, but also your world on fire.  If you truly want this particular definition of success then we will set ourselves on fire and avoid the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

## Copyright 2014, by Dar "Dardarji" Payment. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

 

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Look at Life With Wonder and Be Happy Now!

'Same ole, same ole'. The same ole sun, the same ole sky, the same ole home, and the same ole routine. Many of find that life is boring. Every day seems the same.

What about you? How do you carry on from day to day? Perhaps like me you have even wondered, why is it that a week doesn't have seven Sundays? Or perhaps you find yourself saying - 'I want to enjoy life. I am getting bored with a schedule that never changes. There is no excitement in my life.'

I bet that if you ask few friends about their life and they will say something similar. Why is it that life is becoming a bore for them and how can they make it exciting?

Can one escape work? Well, I guess you can, but no sensible person can escape it forever. Can a parent stop caring for his/her children? No. Can an executive stop making decisions? No.

Then how can you make life exciting? There must be some way. Well, yes, and I am glad you have asked - there is a way and it is very simple.

Just look out of your window and watch the sky. Do you observe any clouds? Look at them. Look at the different shapes? Who made them? From where did they arrive and where will they go? Look at some flowers in your home. Observe their symmetry. Touch and feel the softness. How lovely! We are surrounded by treasures, but we have no time to look at them. A child's smile can make today a different day than any other day. Try to make a child smile and feel the joy.

Look at the night sky. Observe the stars and think about the distances. Some are so far away that it takes light, hundreds of years to reach us. How many millions of years you will take to walk and reach them? What is beyond them? Observe, think and get excited. Life need never be dull for any of us.

Here is another example. While sitting at your table, have you ever wondered about the wood that was used to make it? Have you thought about the life of the tree? A small seed grew into a gigantic tree.

I find that very exciting. What about the tar on the road? It comes from deep inside the earth, goes to refineries and is then laid on the roads.

How deep must the oil well have been?  How did they locate the oil and what will happen after we finish all the oil?

The world you and I live in is full of objects that can make us think and wonder. It is our attitude that makes our life. If we adopt a child-like attitude towards things, we will bring joy back in life. I am not asking you to give up your work to enjoy life but to just pay attention.

Find time during the day to look at things and wonder. Bring joy back in your life. You can begin right now. Look at your screen. What happens to the text after you shut down your computer? Where does everything go when you close the browser? Life is full of excitement - live it!

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If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources.   Like us on Facebook!

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How to Feel Happier and Get More Enjoyment Out of Life

Have you ever had one of those days when you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Perhaps you even tried to get yourself in a better emotional state, but your cranky mood seemed to stick on your shoe like gum on a hot summers day.

At times when you are not feeling your best it is easy to get caught up in your own emotional down spirals and forget how it easy it is to reboot your inner self to feel happier and more optimistic about life. Here are five simple reminders to lift your mood and your spirit, and to help you to feel happier and to get more enjoyment out of your life.

1. Take a walk.
Short daily walks are not only a great way to exercise, but they are also great for the soul. Walking aligns the posture and allows the energy to flow through your spinal cord up to your brain. This can directly affect your mood for the better. Walking out doors also calms the mind and spirit by reacquainting you with the beauty of nature. If you are feeling out of sorts go out for a short stroll.

2. Listen to uplifting music.
This is one of my favorite ways to lift my mood. Uplifting and inspiring Music has the ability to shift your emotional state within seconds. Music is also a great way to motivate yourself out of a slump. Listen to inspiring motion picture soundtracks such as the theme to Chariots of Fire, Superman, or the The Lord of the Rings. There are hundreds of songs and soundtracks that you can choose from and use to instantly hack your mood for the better.

3. Read something inspiring.
Read something that inspires and encourages you. There are several great books, magazines, and online blogs that can help to not only lift your mood, but also educate you by giving you new perspectives and new ways in dealing with life's challenges.

4. Laugh.
Laughter is a sure way to positively lift your emotional state. Look around you for things that are humorous, or watch a comedy show (my favorite are I Love Lucy reruns). Laughter stimulates the the body's secretions of endorphins. Endorphins are often called the happy hormone. They are produced by the pituitary glands and act like opiates to reduce pain and bring about a feeling of euphoria and well-being.

5. Breathing meditation.
Rhythmic breathing creates mental and physical relaxation, and well as quiets and nurtures the spirit. Using the breath as a way to meditate is a simple exercise that you can do anywhere. Sit or lie comfortably with your spine straight, close your eyes and breath in deeply and slowly allowing air to fill your lower abdomen. Notice the flow of air as it enters and exits your nostrils. If a distracted thought comes, just let it go and continue to focus on your breath. Perform this meditation for 5 to 10 minutes and notice how much more centered, and alive you feel afterward.

Each of these five tips are simple and can be easily to performed any where. When you are feeling out of sorts, and emotionally less than your best take the time to apply one or more of these five tips to help you to feel happier, more emotionally centered, and inspired to get more enjoyment out of life.

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If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources.

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