Key 2: Choice

 Being aware of the choices you make gives you
the freedom to create your own experience.

Each new year, Tim would promise to start a new exercise routine but could not keep the motivation to follow through with it. But this year he decided he was going to stick with it. To help him stay motivated, Tim took the advice of a co-worker and hired a personal trainer to help him get started. After the first two weeks, Tim had a workout routine personally tailored to his body type and fitness goals.

After the first month, Tim found his personalized fitness plan was key to his motivation. But Tim also began to notice something else—he started making other healthy choices. As his body began to adjust to the physical exercise, he started craving healthier foods. Because he was eating healthier foods, Tim's weight began to shift. His attitude improved and his stress level was decreasing. As a result of his better mood, work started to flow with a new ease and Tim's relationships started to improve, especially with his wife. Tim had never realized how many aspects of his life were connected to his physical health and well-being. Tim quickly realized that one healthy choice can lead to so many more.

Take a moment this week to prioritize two important things: tasks and people. Take a short inventory of your tasks and ask yourself: Which tasks do I need to spend more time on? Where should I reduce my time? Now take inventory of your relationships: Whom do I need to spend more time with? From whom do I need to detach or take a step back? Add these decisions to your calendar or to-do list for the coming week.

To your best balanced life! 

The Ambassador of Goodwill

Find more tips for better work/life balance at: 21keystoworklifebalance.com

Make A Dream Come True

Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

If you've ever had a dream you were persuing—I mean, a really big dream—you had faith in the process. Even if you didn't know how it would happen, you still believed it would... and with the love and support of others, it did! Well, my dear friend Kathleen Smith has a dream, and you can help make it come true.

As a singer, songwriter and creator extraordinaire, Kathleen has spent years polishing and perfecting her talent, and now she's embarking on the dream of a lifetime—to work with a Grammy award-winning producer Trina Shoemaker to create a full length record, Love Superstar.

So how can you help? I'm glad you asked! Read more about this exciting project and support Kathleen's Kickstarter project by clicking here.

By helping Kathleen—the Love Superstar that she is—you are helping everyone who has a dream... you included! An act of kindness to another is an act of kindness to yourself.

Namaste to all of you Love Superstars,

The Ambassador of Goodwill

21 Keys... Has Arrived!

21 Keys to Work/Life Balance has arrived!

"A true balance between work and life comes with knowing
that your life activities are integrated, not separated." 

Find links at 21keystoworklifebalance.com

One Bite

A recent study from Cox Media Group found that 89 percent of Americans view their work and life balance as a significant problem. Whether it's due to the expansion of technology or the plethora of choices that we face each day, our ability to filter information and stay focused is a constant challenge. The speed of our world is accelerating at an exponential rate and it doesn't appear that it will slow down any time soon. It's no wonder that it becomes more and more difficult to balance priorities between family, friends, and personal obligations while supporting our careers!

You have the potential to make healthy choices and balance your priorities no matter where you are on your life journey. However, change doesn't come easily—it takes courage, dedication, and commitment. Lasting change comes in small steps. Each step evolves into a new habit, and over time, healthy habits become major life changes. By seeking to understand yourself better, learning to focus your energy, and practicing new healthy habits, you can find a better balance of your work and life.

This week, write down one thing you’d like to stop doing and one thing you’d like to start doing to help bring better balance between your work and home life. For example, I will stop checking my email every ten minutes, and, I will start taking a 30-minute walk each day. Put this list where you can see it—on your laptop, iPad, desktop, or sticky note in your car—and make a commitment to changing only those two things this week.
 
Embrace change like enjoying your favorite food—one bite at a time.

The Ambassador of Goodwill

Look for the 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance book launch May 15, 2013 at Amazon.com and 21keystoworklifebalance.com
 

Key 1: The Balance Myth

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance.

Is there really such a thing as work/life balance? Many say it's a myth. Balance implies harmony or equilibrium among opposing elements. Imagine what this looks like on a scale—work and life are not only separated, but at opposite ends of the spectrum. In this way, the idea of “work/life balance” supports the idea that work and life are separated. This myth of separation is supported by our environments. Since most people leave their home to go to work each day, the differences between work and home environments shift our energy and force us to refocus.

Now consider a different picture. Visualize your life as a circle with work as one of many different circles contained within it. All of our thoughts, feelings, and actions are constantly flowing in and out of these circles—now work and life are not opposing elements but rather work is one element in a much larger “life.” Work is a part of life. The two elements are integrated. The answer to finding better work/life balance is to find the right blend between all our life activities—regardless of where and when they occur.

A true balance between work and life
comes with knowing that your life
activities are integrated, not separated.

 

 

Look for 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance coming May 15, 2013!

 

Namaste,

 

The Ambassador of Goodwill

  

Win a Copy of 21 Keys!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

21 Keys to Work/Life Balance

by Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Giveaway ends May 15, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Work/Life Balance? Help is on the Way!

Coming May 15, 2013

21keystoworklifebalance.com