Growing Through Challenge - Keeping Life In Balance

                              FOUR PARTS OF LIFE

There are many ways to divide up the various facets, dimensions and roles of our lives. For our limited space and purposes here, I will touch on four basic areas: Physical, Mental, Social, and Spiritual.

Granted, this is but one way to look at life. Then again, it is hard to think of anything that would not fit into one of these four categories.

                                    THE FORMAT

Rather than spouting out a lot of "answers" and commentary that you have probably already heard, let me just ask you some probing questions related to each category. You can wrestle with the answers at your own pace.

                          THE PHYSICAL DIMENSION

Are you more concerned with how you "LOOK" or how you "SEE"?

Which one do you think is more important... and why?

Is there a disparity between the image you project to the world with your bodily appearance and adornments... verses the person you feel you really are on the inside?

On the other hand, someone made a good point when they said, "If you don't take care of your body, where will you live?" Without being obsessed by your body, do you try to take good care of it?

What are two things you know you could be doing to improve your physical well-being that you are currently not paying attention to?

                            THE MENTAL DIMENSION

How much impact do you believe your thinking has on the rest of your life? Related to the things you read, watch, and listen to... how much of your mental diet is solid nutrition? How much is 'candy'?

When you finished school, did you think you could stop learning?

How long has it been since you read a non-fiction book?

Do you have a library card? If yes, how often and for what do you use it? What is one good book, audio or video program that you would like to complete this month?

                             THE SOCIAL DIMENSION

Is the outer image you show to the world genuine with the inner person you really are?

Do you have some relationships which seem to help you become a better person?

Do you have some other relationships which seem to bring out more of your negative side?

Are you more of a "giver" or a "taker" in your relationships?

Might you be too "dependent" on any one of your friendships?

Might you have any tendencies towards a "Messiah Complex"... always trying to change your friends... (of course for their own good)?

Is there one friend who is long overdue for a phone call or letter from you... today?

                          THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

Since our time here on earth is, at best brief, what are your thoughts regarding the eternity that lies beyond?

Do those thoughts trouble or comfort you?

What are your concepts of a Creator God?

Upon what foundation have your concepts of God been formed?

Is that really good enough, or does such an important concept deserve more time and attention?

Is the spiritual aspect of your life more of an accessory that you wear on certain occasions, or is it the core of your nature?   How do you react to this quote: I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." ___Susan B. Anthony

On a scale of '1' to '10', how important do you think your relationship with your Creator should be?

On that same scale, what kind of relationship do you feel you currently have?

If you would like to improve that relationship... why do you believe it would be so important?

                                CLOSING THOUGHTS

Most of us find ourselves dealing with two conflicting truths, which seem to be continually doing battle within us:

Truth One: We know that all of the different parts of life work better if each one is in a "balanced" relationship with each of the others.

Truth Two: We are always beset by this human tendency to allow things to get "out of balance". The insidiousness of this trait is that it is seldom "one big step" that moves our lives out of proper equilibrium. Rather it usually comes from "little" decisions made regarding what seem to be "small" matters... and there it emerges... deep within, we begin to feel the stress of a "lop-sided" life.

These four dimensions of life are like a four-legged stool: If one or two legs get out of proportion with the other legs, life begins to feel "uncomfortable". We totter in anxiety... Or worse yet, we may become oblivious to our imbalance. I hope you will take some serious time to examine your own life... earnestly pursuing balance.

                                QUOTES TO PONDER

"The most important word in the English language is balance." ___Tom Hopkins

"There are limits to self-indulgence; none to self-restraint." ___Gandhi

"Since we are dead such a long time, perhaps we should prepare."   ___unknown

"Integrity simply means a willingness not to violate one's identity." ___Erich Fromm

"It makes all the difference in the world whether we put truth in the first place, or in the second place." ___John Morley

"The true portrait of a man is the fusion of what he thinks he is, what others think he is, what he really is and what he tries to be." ___Dore Schary

The mind grows by what it feeds on." ___J.G. Holland

"The mind always tries to complete what it visualizes." ___Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

"Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear... are those which never happen." ___Roderick Thorp

"Will you spend your life dealing with the immediate or the eternal?" ___C.S. Lewis!