Balance: The key to life satisfaction

This month we are focusing on finding balance. All throughout this year, we’ve been all about what we have to get done, what goals are being accomplished, what tasks are being done. This month, we want to take a chance to reflect on what we haven’t been doing, and perhaps consider putting time and attention toward them. Many of us focus on career success which may result in neglecting our health or family and friends, or any other iteration. This is because juggling all the aspects of our lives is a balancing act, and making sure we’re getting enough of, and giving enough to each aspect is the key to balance and also to life satisfaction.

There are many other ways to allocate time and attention that don’t have to be career focused that still may reduce our life satisfaction. Perhaps we focus too much on other people and find ourselves neglecting ourselves and even feeling guilty when we do spend time on ourselves. Many people in caretaker roles such as new parents have to navigate the balance between needs of oneself and those of others relying on us. Let this month be a simple reminder to remember not simply the things in the future we want to achieve, but also those things in the present that make us fulfilled and happy.

These vary for us all, so we’re going to keep the tasting menu a little on the short side today. Try out this article on the PERMA model, created by a man often called the Founder of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman. He contends that there are 5 important aspects of life we must cultivate in order to maximise  our sense of well-being and satisfaction:

• Positive emotions – feeling good
• Engagement – being completely absorbed in activities
• Relationships – being authentically connected to others
• Meaning – purposeful existence
• Achievement – a sense of accomplishment and success

You can read more of the article to get a better understanding.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Authentic Happiness Center provides an array of research-backed surveys you can take to learn more about yourself. We recommend the PERMA Questionnaire. It may be helpful in determining what you may be missing out on.