Monday, January 30, 2012

Simplify Your Life Week Four #syl12


This week it's all about assessing your life and values balance. So how you are balancing your values, what needs working on and what needs to stay consistent. Deb included the Wheel of Life exercise which was a great way to see just how your values are being achieved or not.

I didn't really think that what I was choosing were my core values or in our family mission statement but it appears they are.
Using the above values I created my Wheel of Life;
Had to take a photo as I don't have Word on my laptop
As you can see from the above photo Personal Development, Friends, Spirituality and Environment aren't faring as well as I would like it to.
To me personal development is growing, learning and enhancing as a person. I believe that I have grown but I still need to learn from experiences and I have a lot of enhancing to do to become the person I would like to be. To do that I feel I need to be mindful daily and sit back when situations get tough, think about why and what I can do and learn from it. 
I love my friends, they are amazing and I hate that I don't see them as often as I used to or should. I'm a social person and I've let anxiety stop me from being my social self. It sucks, I want to change it but at the moment I'm struggling just keeping up with the housework let alone getting out and being social. That doesn't mean I don't love my friends or appreciate them, I do.
This is on par with personal development to me. To grow and be mindful I feel I need to also enhance my spirituality in the form of Buddhism. What appeals to me most about Buddhism is the emphasis on self enhancement and growth rather than a God being. You can be the higher power but until then look to those who have reached or are reaching their enlightenment - that's what I want for myself and family.
I like the environment and I think it's important to nourish it for our future generations. Having kids has definitely emphasised this need. Unfortunately I've been lazy with helping the environment. Sure we recycle, reuse and are careful with our electricity use but I'd love to also have a vegetable/fruit garden, turn off stand-by items and stop using the dryer so often.
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I'm more satisfied with the following, but only just;
We have done a lot of work culling, organising and sorting our home. It's nowhere near where I would like it to be. In fact we need to spend a couple of days just cleaning the whole place (this week). The mister is also feeling a bit cramped by the minimal space we have and is over living so close to our shitty neighbours. We are actually on the look out (again this week) for a house to rent further from the city but still close enough that he can ride to his workplaces and I can easily catch public transport.
How I wish this was higher! The mister and lufflump's health is quite good at the moment. The mister is getting fitter everyday from riding to and from work plus eating well. Lufflump hasn't been badly sick in a while, thank goodness. My health, however, is a different story. I have low blood pressure, low iron and thanks to being pregnant suffering from lack of sleep. I'm sure the former two are impacting on my energy levels to the point where I'm always tired and while I'm trying to get their levels back up I'm not sure it's being successful. Mentally, the mister and I are both struggling from lack of sleep making us edgy at times. Other than that my anxiety is the lowest it's been in a LONG time which I'm loving.
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I'm not 100% satisfied with any of my values and I think it would be scary to say so. I don't believe that 100% is a number I'll ever be with my values as self, relationships, love and life changes which would influence the change in values. However, I am almost satisfied with the following;
I love my family, they make me want to be a better person. I believe that working on my personal development, spirituality and health & wellbeing will benefit my family immensely which is what they deserve. Lufflump deserves a good, happy family life that will enrich his self. So does sesame, the mister and myself.
The mister will most likely disagree with me on the level I put finances on. To me we aren't struggling financially. Sure there are a lot of stuff (note STUFF) we can't afford but we are extremely fortunate in the choices our financial stability and level allow us to have. We are able to live comfortably and we don't go without quite often. We have luxuries others didn't have, our children have luxuries our parents weren't able to afford. I am able to stay at home, lufflump is able to attend the daycare we have chosen for him (not the cheapest) and our bills are always paid on time. Very fortunate.
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This exercise has opened my eyes somewhat. I already knew what I felt I need to work on but looking at it like this, I'm also more grateful to what we do have and what I have achieved. That's the first step isn't it; identifying what needs change?

12 comments:

  1. I think you make a VERY important point at the end, you have been able to see and be grateful for what you do have and what you have achieved, not just what requires attention.

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  2. I enjoyed reading your post. You are definitely right - the first step is identifying what needs changing. And I love how you mention being grateful for what you have achieved and what you have.

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  3. I really enjoyed reading your post. Today I spent all day at home and really wanted to ring a few friends for a catch up and to make plans, but my anxiety got in the way. I'm afraid they will stop calling me some weeks! Goodluck with the rest of the SYL12 challenges...look forward to reading more.

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    1. Thank you. I hope your anxiety settles down. It can be so mean :(

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  4. Yes, the first step is definitely identifying what needs work, and identifying what already works is a huge step in getting that done. I'm glad to hear your anxiety is in check. It can be so debilitating. I'm sure most people could stand to work on their health and well-being. Thanks for sharing, sounds like you have a great idea of what you want, and what you will work on to get it. x

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    1. Thanks so much. Anxiety can be so debilitating and it's so silent it's hard for others to understand. Bastard thing.

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  5. Your point at the end is perfect. I also was able to sit back and be grateful for the things that we're getting right in our lives. Sometimes thinking of the negatives actually makes the positives shine :)

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    1. Thank you. I totally agree, it's so much nicer looking at the positives as well.

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  6. Love what you write about spirituality - i feel similarly.

    You have worked very hard on home this year (and i have loved reading along) . It is great that your anxiety is at its lowest - i fight it back time to time as well and it is so connected to other areas of health for me (like diet and exercise and fresh air and deep breathing). Thanks for continuing to stick with SYL Ames - love your posts each week.

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    1. Thanks so much Deb. I'm enjoying the challenges :)
      You're doing such an amazing job.

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Just like everyone else I LOVE comments and they make me SMILE. I'll reply as soon as I can, but please know that I appreciate and read EVERY single comment. Thanks xxx

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