2. Establish boundaries and standards.

Boundaries ensure that others do not intrude upon your space, time, energy, etc. Boundaries are the imaginary, but well understood lines that tell others how far they can go or how close they can come.
 
For example, one of your boundaries might be that you do not allow others to make demands upon you. They can suggest, request, advise, and recommend, but they can’t demand. Standards, on the other hand, are rules to which you hold yourself accountable.
 
You might, for example, have a personal standard of always doing outstanding work, not criticizing others, or listening more than you talk. Having standards enables you to live life in a more relaxed way; you don’t have to re decide in every instance, you have only to follow the standard you have set for yourself.  Fit in terms of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle.
 
Fitness is a requirement for balance, because the fully fit person wastes less time and energy getting things done and accomplishes them more easily. Fitness involves viewing body and mind as inter-developmental systems in which every part performs an essential role.

3.  Put self, family, work, and leisure in proper perspective.

The order here is not accidental. If you don’t put your “self” first, you cannot give your best to others. if family is more of a burden than a joy, you are missing both  valuable learning and connection. And if work is all consuming, that’s just what it will do to you: it will consume you.
 
4. Be fully present.

To be fully present (mindful) is to enjoy a relaxed attentiveness that takes in everything but is free of judgment. it is to be able to focus on a single person, idea or topic to the extent that all else becomes imperceptible background noise. And finally, to be fully present is to have no preoccupations with past or future.

When you are mindful, you are aware of what you are sensing (perception and action), feeling (emotions and feelings), thinking (thoughts and imagination), wanting and intending (values, intentions, and desires) to do at any moment.
 
Being fully present takes practice and a willingness to purposefully exclude all that is not directly relevant to the subject at hand, and to remain in the now, even when drifting off might be more appealing.

More tommorow…

Bill McGrane is President of the McGrane Global Centers creators of the Making it Happen and Move Into Your Greatness. The Centers offers, keynotes, seminars, consulting and products that improve individual and organizational performance. You can create highly responsible teams and produce a culture of responsibility.
 Call 859-384-6333 or mcgrane@mcgrane.com

McGrane Global Centers