For me it's all on geographic location. I can have the most beautiful home, a great job, and wonderful (no, make that perfect) relationship... but when I walk outside and my eyes aren't filled with wonder the rest of me falls apart. Where I live can mentally make or break me. And right now it is close to breaking me. No change in sight. Yet.
Wow do I hear this! I'm counting the days until I can sell my large home in NJ and move to a much smaller place somewhere in New England. I'll be trading down on amenities and proximity to family, but I need solitude and quiet and every time I have to come back to the claustrophobic urban life I'm so ready to go.
Really interesting article thanks. Bloody hell, I’m rethinking everything right now - this could just prove to be the push I need to blow everything apart. Eek (in emoji language, why do we not have a word for that face? Says it all, doesn’t it?) “when only my mental health and where I live was screwed” made me laugh. Put like that, what was your option?! Well done for being brave, not many of us are. I mean, to be clear, I’m (for now) still in the not brave camp!
"Your mom and dad were right when they told you that you can’t always get exactly what you want." I believe it was actually the Rolling Stones. :)
I love the point that the numbers do not have absolute value so that the biggest number always is best. Take 5-10% off of some of your high scoring areas to bring up the one or two that are really weighing you down and your level of life satisfaction could actually go way up, even if the numbers don't reveal that in a mathematical sense. This is really worth diving into.
Yeah it's interesting that life can be overall better even if certain parts are a little worse than they were previous, so long as everything is more on an even keel. It was news to me!
I am definitely feeling all of this, having recently moved from the perfect house in a much-better-run city...and being SO MUCH HAPPIER because what I spend money on and where my leisure time goes are much more aligned with my hopes for myself. I'll add that dropping "scores" into the 70-80 range puts me in a position of looking forward to things, experimenting with things, etc. It feels more playful, more fun, more lively than simply polishing the perfect.
Definitely ressonated with me, although I feel like physical health should be on there as well. I was a substitute teacher for years, then got full time employment at a community college last year. That was my lowest point on the list. Now it’s physical health, but it’s gotten way easier to work on with a better job.
For me it's all on geographic location. I can have the most beautiful home, a great job, and wonderful (no, make that perfect) relationship... but when I walk outside and my eyes aren't filled with wonder the rest of me falls apart. Where I live can mentally make or break me. And right now it is close to breaking me. No change in sight. Yet.
I'm holding on to "yet."
Yet is very important. And I agree, geographic location is very important. Hopefully the change can come for you soon
Wow do I hear this! I'm counting the days until I can sell my large home in NJ and move to a much smaller place somewhere in New England. I'll be trading down on amenities and proximity to family, but I need solitude and quiet and every time I have to come back to the claustrophobic urban life I'm so ready to go.
Sounds like a good plan, Melanie
Really interesting article thanks. Bloody hell, I’m rethinking everything right now - this could just prove to be the push I need to blow everything apart. Eek (in emoji language, why do we not have a word for that face? Says it all, doesn’t it?) “when only my mental health and where I live was screwed” made me laugh. Put like that, what was your option?! Well done for being brave, not many of us are. I mean, to be clear, I’m (for now) still in the not brave camp!
Ha thanks Emma!
"Your mom and dad were right when they told you that you can’t always get exactly what you want." I believe it was actually the Rolling Stones. :)
I love the point that the numbers do not have absolute value so that the biggest number always is best. Take 5-10% off of some of your high scoring areas to bring up the one or two that are really weighing you down and your level of life satisfaction could actually go way up, even if the numbers don't reveal that in a mathematical sense. This is really worth diving into.
Good point on the rolling stones!!
Yeah it's interesting that life can be overall better even if certain parts are a little worse than they were previous, so long as everything is more on an even keel. It was news to me!
I am definitely feeling all of this, having recently moved from the perfect house in a much-better-run city...and being SO MUCH HAPPIER because what I spend money on and where my leisure time goes are much more aligned with my hopes for myself. I'll add that dropping "scores" into the 70-80 range puts me in a position of looking forward to things, experimenting with things, etc. It feels more playful, more fun, more lively than simply polishing the perfect.
Thats's great! You're right, it's about aligning what you want and who you are- your values and as you say, hopes - with those 10 life areas.
Definitely ressonated with me, although I feel like physical health should be on there as well. I was a substitute teacher for years, then got full time employment at a community college last year. That was my lowest point on the list. Now it’s physical health, but it’s gotten way easier to work on with a better job.
You're absolutely right, I can't believe I missed that. Now it's 11 points ;-)
A solid application of the Pareto principle. ❤️
Wow, great post! What an eye opener. I’m going to ponder my percentages in those 10 areas 😬😅