Is becoming a happier healthier you part of your concept of success? I hope so because happiness is not only something each of us aspires to, it is an important part of our well-being.
A Harvard study found that “the happiest and most satisfied adults [in midlife] were those who managed to turn the question ‘What can I do for myself?’ into ’What can I do for the world beyond me?’”
If we’re holding back from sharing our gifts with others, with our communities, or in our work due to health challenges (or other challenges), not only are we not contributing all that we are capable of, we likely are not fulfilling our own needs. Our own desire to make a difference.
If health challenges are a concern, it’s important to really focus on supporting your well-being and work in a constructive manner.
What is Your Status?
Before continuing, take a moment and ponder… “What consistent actions do I take on a daily basis to support my well-being and work?“
Are the days slipping by or are you taking deliberate actions to live and work intentionally. If you are taking deliberate actions to live a balanced life that is supported by daily healthy habits, congratulations! If you have room to improve (BalanceUP®), then I invite you to read on.
Too often in life, while busy focusing on the many disruptions of daily life, we wait. A day goes by, a week, a month, a year, 5 years, or even… a lifetime. Instead of making deliberate decisions that support our well-being and work, our dreams, our goals, and even our health, we simply wait.
With the passage of time, we might question why our objectives remain unfulfilled, why we haven’t achieved our goals. We might ponder the fleeting nature of time. Is it possible that we are simply biding our time… waiting without even realizing life is slipping by?
The Many Reasons We Wait…
- We wait to have more confidence
- We wait to have more knowledge
- We wait to have a larger audience or network
- We wait to be healthier
- We wait to achieve a certain financial goal
- We wait to be more fit
- We wait until we overcome our obstacles
- We wait to be the perfect weight
- We simply wait…
Too often, waiting seems to be our nature, even in the ‘busyness’ of all our hustle.
One Wait We Need to Let Go Of
While I’m all about achieving excellence, I’m also all about taking care of my own well-being, including my own happiness. Often, like many others with one or more health challenges, there’s one wait we have to consciously observe and release…. waiting for perfect health.
Do you ever find yourself waiting to live fully, to start or grow your business, or to work towards a promotion or new job while you wait for perfect – or improved – health?
If your answer is yes, I challenge you to consider that waiting for a specific level of health, or perfect health, might well be the mindset block holding you back from achieving a happier healthier you.
Waiting is Not the End Game
Waiting for perfection in any area of life is the antithesis of building balance in our lives.
There might be times when pulling your business back or even pausing it temporarily as a result of a health challenge is the right decision.
Sometimes our bodies are so broken and exhausted that we do need to first take time to heal and rejuvenate. And that’s okay; sometimes such a pause is necessary and healthy. I paused my first business three times due to health challenges in the early part of my entrepreneurial journey, and each time I made leaps forward afterwards.
However, there is also a case for accepting that your health might not be 100% and then making lifestyle changes to best support your well-being while you move forward.
I have witnessed many individuals successfully work alongside extreme fatigue, debilitating pain, mobility issues, and a number of other significant symptoms that disrupt daily life. And I have watched with much gratitude as they learned to balance their lives in a way that made space for managing their health challenges, and even healing to different degrees.
Your personal experience might be any combination of physical symptoms, fears around those concerns and even the emotional impact of carrying the weight of these concerns. The health effects and impacts of those challenges you experience are as unique as you are.
You are Entitled to Happiness
However, regardless of the number of health obstacles you face, you are entitled to happiness, improved health, and fulfilling work. And waiting for perfect health is not going to lead to this happiness.
In fact, numerous studies and health organizations, including this UPMC Health Beat article, How Perfectionism is Linked to Anxiety and Mental Health, suggest that striving for perfection increases anxiety and negatively impacts mental health.
Time to Make Deliberate Decisions
The key to putting and end to the waiting game is to make the distinction between pausing to consciously improve your health versus moving forward with your business or career while working to improve your current health status.
Once you make this distinction, it’s important to take action.
The moment you take action, you reduce the stresses of uncertainty and that feeling of being in limbo… of waiting.
If you decide to take a pause, commit to a plan for improving your health. If you decide to move forward with your work WHILE addressing health challenges, commit to this decision. Identify your needs, prioritize your health, and build a daily lifestyle that supports your well-being and work.
Accepting Your Limitations
On a personal note, accepting your limitations and challenges can be incredibly freeing!
Once you accept and embrace where you are, right now in this moment in time, you are free to make decisions that best support your health, well-being and work. Radical acceptance of your health challenges does not mean you are giving up, it simply means you’re not letting your current health hold you back experiencing inner peace, joy and happiness.
If you would like to begin living more intentionally and incorporating daily habits to find balance in a way that supports a happier life, this eBook “Live a More Balanced and Joyful Life with Compromised Health” will guide you in you building a lifestyle around the foundations of well-being.
Want more tips, strategies and support in creating a balanced life that supports your work, health and well-being? Sign up for the BalanceUP Community News newsletter.
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