Every day is a balance. Nutritionists suggest that you eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins to make sure your body is getting all the essential nutrients and building blocks for your body. This same strategy is also important for other areas of your life as well. For example are you giving proper focus to your physical, mental, spiritual, social, emotional and financial well being or is the focus disproportionately invested into just a couple areas?

Are You Neglecting an 'Essential' Area?
Do you feel you are neglecting other important areas of your life? If so why? Many times people 'know' they should be focusing on another area and they are 'trying' but then they 'RATIONAL-LIES' (make up a story to explain their behavior) why they can't put the effort into it they know they should.

The Six Major Areas of Life are Essential for Well Being
The reason why its so important to evaluate your life regularly based on these six major areas is because they are all essential to your well being. This fact is self evident - try to neglect any one area and your entire system suffers. Much like your diet, if you aren't getting enough of one essential nutrient - even if overall you are eating healthy the system still begins to break down.

The Plant / Pet Metaphor
Imagine some areas are like plants - they need just a little nurturing to grow healthy while other areas are more like a pet, requiring significantly more time and attention to be healthy. Intuitively you'll know when its time to nurture the plant - especially if the leaves start to sag and turn brown. You'll also know when the pet requires more food or water - usually right away because he starts to nag at you. A simple metaphor I know, but the same thing is happening internally. If you don't focus on financial growth- bill collectors start to nag at you. If you don't focus on exercise, eating healthy or drinking plenty of water - your body begins to nag at you. If you aren't developing yourself mentally - you'll begin to feel stagnant. If you aren't nurturing yourself spiritually - you'll begin to feel empty inside. If you aren't focusing on the social aspect of your life - you'll begin to feel lonely and isolated. If you aren't taking control of your emotions, creating a pause between stimulus and response - you are more reactive and feel 'out of control'. There are many early warning signals that the leaves are sagging or turning brown. Do you listen to them and nurture these vital areas of your life or do you ignore them and place excessive focus on only one area of your garden?

How Do You Balance?
The first key is to realize that you don't need to invest the same amount of time in all areas - what a relief right? But you do need to invest SOME time on a daily basis.

Balance for Well Being
The easiest way to balance the six major areas of life is to simply be aware of them on a daily basis. Go down the list and ask yourself: "How do I feel about this area in my life right now?" Notice what you feel. Then ask yourself, "What goal would I like to set for this area of my life?" Set a clear and specific goal - something that YOU can actually take action on with no excuses. Even if you are super busy, setting a goal of 5 minutes for nurturing yourself spiritually while driving to work is far better than feeling tense about traffic.

Energy flows where focus goes. It's as simple as that. By simply using the six major areas as landmarks for your focus and getting clear on how you want to develop them - you are nurturing them in that moment! And the time you invest in them later.

Why Most People Aren't Living Their Full Potential
The reason why most people fall short of reaching their full potential is in my opinion, because they fall into a low value (low return on investment) pattern and stay there for a very long time. They neglect some essential area of their life and they come up with a good story for why they are doing it. The story then becomes the handcuff that chains them to one '