Moving Toward Well-Being
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as WE are.”
- Anais Nin
Challenges in life are inevitable. Every day, we face unique obstacles in our workplaces, relationships, and daily lives. And while we can’t (fully) control what happens to us, we can control how we respond.
We can choose to be people who respond to life’s challenges with negativity and avoidance. Or we can choose to be people who view those challenges as opportunities for growth.
How we respond depends on our well-being.
As life ebbs and flows, being in a state of well-being can keep us grounded. It can help us maintain a more balanced perspective, and increase our resourcefulness, creativity, energy, and productivity.
As leaders and people journeying through life, our goal should be consistently moving towards well-being. To lead and live from a space of calmness, positivity, and inner peace.
The Well-Being Zone
Jacqueline Antonetti-Moreno, a Life and Business Coach, defines our mindsets and behaviors while navigating life as the Well-Being Zone. These four quadrants include Blindness — where we don’t see the good that’s happening, Illusion — when we ONLY see the positive (and ignore the challenges), Drama — where we see ourselves as the victim of life’s obstacles, and Well-Being — seeing life as positive and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Reflect: Think about the challenges and obstacles you’ve encountered in your life. How have you typically responded? Based on your reflection, what is your predominant zone?
Most of us will fluctuate through each quadrant. Over a week or day, we might struggle to find the positive of a situation or avoid an obstacle while having moments of clarity and peace. The key is to be aware of your predominant zone, where you are at any given moment, and strive to move toward well-being as often as possible.
Moving Toward Well-Being
“If you are not well internally, it doesn’t matter how many strategies you use, you’re still not going to be productive. You’re still going to be feeling drained. You’re still going to burn out.”
— Jacqueline Antonetti-Moreno
Think positive. Much of your well-being depends on the quality of your thoughts. A constant negative internal dialogue can cause your perspective on life and the challenges that arise to be the same. Start practicing positive thinking by simply observing your thoughts. When faced with an obstacle or setback, focus on the opportunity for growth or evolution. When you notice a limiting thought, replace it with an empowering one.
Rest. Rest is an essential ingredient to our well-being and productivity. When you’re not disconnecting, resetting, and restoring your body, focusing, making good decisions, and practicing positive thinking becomes difficult. Make rest a priority.
Practice gratitude. One of the best ways to move toward well-being is gratitude. Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring or avoiding challenges, but an intentional practice to focus on the good. Take time each day to reflect on what you are grateful for — people, experiences, and opportunities. This can help you stay balanced through difficulties and shift your focus towards positivity.
Meditate. Meditation is another powerful tool to help you move towards well-being. Taking time to be still, calm, and center yourself can help you work through other quadrants where you may be operating in distress or negativity. Don’t limit yourself to traditional meditation. It can be anything that calms the nervous system and inner dialogue and connects you with your soul. Mediation could be journaling, dancing, walking, or spending time in nature.
Nurture your body. Your physical and mental well-being are intricately connected. So while you’re shifting your thoughts and calming your nervous system, take care of your body too! Practice regular exercise, eat healthy and nutritious meals, and prioritize self-care activities that nourish your body.
As Untapped Leaders, well-being is not only essential for our happiness and peace but also for our ability to lead with resilience, creativity, and compassion. By shifting towards a state of well-being we can live better and become better people and leaders.