Looking at these four things may help you get better balance in your life
1 - Give up comparing yourself to others
There will always be someone cleverer, with more money, more career success, a better car, a better house, a better phone. If you play the comparison game it cam become an obsession and do you know what – it’s a game you can’t win as the goal posts are always moving, the bar gets higher. Instead just focus on your own progress and what you really want.
For a great song that captures this perfectly see – “Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrmann
2 - Try something new every week
It’s easy to get in a rut with the routine of the working week, repeating itself over and over. Each week pick one small thing you’ve never done.
For example have you discovered TEDTalks yet? I only recently started listening to these. Interesting, inspirational and not very long. Why not have a look? You can watch them whilst cooking dinner using a new recipe you haven’t tried before (oh, two new things right there 😉 )
3 - Really Listen
We all listen right? Well yes but no.
Listening is a great relationship builder but in our fast paced, tech-stuffed world we do things so quickly then we often aren’t actively listening.
When with a friend take your time to ask questions and really listen, rather then thinking about what you want to say next. Giving your full attention to what they are saying will make all the difference to them.
And there's an unexpected bonus, if you listen hard you may also learn just as much from what they don’t say as what they do
4 - Start battling the need to be right
If you find yourself always having to be right, bear in mind this may be at the expense of someone else’s feelings.
In each situation ask yourself if you really need to agree? Is there perhaps another point of view or information I haven’t considered?
Doing this doesn’t mean you stop putting your view across and stop speaking up for yourself and what you believe in. It’s just shifting where you sit on the see-saw a bit, so it’s better balanced and the people at both ends enjoy the ride.
Happy Changing!