Stability vs. Dreams
After a wonderful weekend with friends and family, a number of subjects came up that were worthy of a post. The first discussion had with a friend while stood in line to see my very talented Brother-in-Law's show was about 'how do you get the right balance between 'stability' in your life, and following your dreams?'.
If your dream does not involve a 9-5, and monthly paycheck, how do you sustain a stable life? Or on the other hand, how do you branch out from the daily grind to include some excitement and dreams in your life? It's an unfair fight, but one that can have a big impact on your sense of wellbeing. It's fulfilling to follow a goal or a dream, but if you can't relax and have a sense of stability, it can be stressful. Alternatively, working full time, being stuck in the same routine, can suck the joy out of life and leave you bored and frustrated.
So how do you stop the internal battle and get a good balance of the two? I think these are some basic and simple ways to start:
Be diligent in your planning. An organised calendar or daily timetable can help you find the free time between work and commitments, and show you the time you could dedicate to having more fun in your life. Got a free couple of hours on a Wednesday evening? Don't use them up doing mundane tasks, think creatively about what would make you happy, and book that in! Start with small goals, like turning the TV off and reading a magazine, and build up to include more elaborate plans on a regular basis, like those Salsa lessons you've always wanted to try! Find your free hours and fill them with fun!
Be diligent in your budgeting- Ok so...the first two ways to get more balanced excitement in your life are planning and budgeting!? I can hear the groans from here...and I'm with you! BUT if you have a grip on your budget, and know what you need to spend and what you've got left to put towards your dreams, you'll be safe in the knowledge that your stability won't be at risk when you want to spend on something exciting, like an impulse buy weekend away!
Understand what makes you tick! We're all different, and have different goals and dreams, but a lot of us don't really know what ours are! Spend some time getting to know what your priorities are in life, what your short term and long term goals are, and what makes you truly happy. Do you love to cook, but find you always end up making the same meals? Spend some time finding new inspiration and cook up a different storm. Do you love being creative and feel happiest when creating something inspired? Or are you happiest when with friends or family? You won't know what to plan if you don't know what you love. Try creating a board of cut out pictures and inspiration to help you remember what you want more of in your life.
Don't give up. It's obviously important to compromise to get balance, BUT don't give up on what you love and what makes you happy. Even if some weeks you just don't have the time, ensure that at some point in your future calendar you have something to hold on to that will keep you going towards the things you want. Having a family and work and bills does not mean you need to forsake life, and sometimes this needs to come first. Challenge any guilty feelings by remembering that you're family or work will benefit hugely from you being happy and fulfilled, and it's nothing to feel bad about!
Many client's that I've worked with in the past have struggled with getting the right balance, and it can be something you need some support with. Accessing some help can really help to inspire you and help you make sense of your life and what needs to change. Contact Boost if this is something you're interested in. It is achievable!
