The Tripod of Balance: Health, Wealth, and Relationships
November 17, 2009
Please Note: This is a guest post by Srinivas Rao, from The Skool of Life. Be sure to check out his blog, and don’t forget to subscribe for free updates via email or RSS.
When it comes to living life to your fullest potential, I am a strong believer that you won’t reach it without balance. I find far too often that people will sacrifice one area at the expense of another. For example a person may have massive career success and neglect family relationships and health to eventually drop dead from a heart attack before the age of 50. That’s not exactly what I call success even if your heart attack came with a million dollar price tag.
Unfortunately, many of us do live unbalanced lives in one way or another, and hopefully I’ll shed some light on how to achieve balance.
Health
To me health, both mental and physical is really the root of all balance. I recently a made a decision to quit my job after only two weeks and my health was one of the major reasons. If you are in bad health it makes it unlikely that you will achieve success in wealth and relationships. The reality is you need health and energy to reach your dreams, so make it a priority to get your health in order. If you need to quit smoking, quit. Or just quit for today because it starts one step at a time. Just do something to start moving in a healthy direction.
Wealth
I made many mistakes in my early 20′s when it came to my finances and I’m still dealing with the consequences of those mistakes. But somewhere along the way I decided it was time for a course correction and using my blog to move towards my personal development goals was the beginning of that. Wealth is different to everybody. To some, it means having millions of dollars and tons of toys. The only thing I will say about that is that you can’t take any of it with you, so don’t get too attached to it.
To, me going from my blog to about $90,000 a year would allow me to live an absolute dream lifestyle. Once you figure out a dream lifestyle, then you’ll have an idea of the wealth you need to achieve balance. To me, 90 grand a year working for myself is better than 250 grand answering to somebody else.
Relationships
The quality of the relationships you have with your friends, family, and significant others will have a tremendous impact on the quality of your life. I always tell people that you should measure wealth by the quality of your friends. The truth is I’m worth a fortune because I have some absolutely amazing friends. When it comes to family, realize that your family, no matter how you feel about them provides a lifelong support system. I will say that I’ve been fortunate to grow up in a good family, and I know there are people who have grown up in dysfunctional families. But, your past doesn’t equal your future, and my advice to you is start your own family.
When it comes to significant others, I’m far from an expert, but the one thing I learned in relationships was that you shouldn’t be in one just because you don’t want to be alone or because you are afraid of hurting somebody else. If you’re unhappy in a relationship for an extended period of time, then maybe it’s time to put an end to that relationship.
By definition a tripod has three legs. If you pull one leg out, the tripod won’t stand. The tripod of balance in life therefore, is really essential to reaching your full potential.
What about You?
How are you doing with the tripod of balance? Are these the same factors you try to balance in your life? Which is the greatest struggle for you?
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Posted in balance, choices
Hey, Srinivas!
I just want to thank you for this guest post because it’s really got me thinking about my own tripod. Of these three, the toughest for me by far is the wealth piece because I still can’t seem to separate the accumulation of wealth from being superficial or materialistic.
I know life is not “about” money, so that makes it very hard to focus on getting money. But it isn’t going to just magically appear (or grow on trees) so I end up NOT having it… which quickly makes life about NOT having enough. Pretty much the opposite of universal abundance.
I’m fairly happy with my other two pegs, health and relationships, so if I could get that last one to balance, things would be pretty sweet indeed.
Lovely post Srinivas. I agree with needing a balance in your life and all too often we get so focused on one aspect to the exclusion of everything else. Obviously this isn’t good.
You may not be an expert on relationships (sig. others) but your advice “you shouldn’t be in one just because you don’t want to be alone or because you are afraid of hurting somebody else.” is very wise. If a relationship is not working for both of you it’s time to move on. Good post.
.-= Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..Life Is Various Shades Of Gray =-.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by LisisMB and Richard Bejah, Jonas Verdeflor. Jonas Verdeflor said: The Tripod of Balance: Health, Wealth, and Relationships …: Please Note: This is a guest post by Srinivas Rao.. bit.ly/jQTK6 [...]
HI Srinivas
I like this tripod approach to balance life. And you have hit it right on the spot with all three of them.
BUt as with LIsis, the financial or wealth leg of my tripod doesnt seem to be very steady. I always have an issue with making money…somehow makes me feel a little materialistic. Which I feel I am not. So the conscience pricking me bit about it isnt a lot of fun…I end up going out on a limb to do my job(which I love)…but cant get myself to think that I should make bags and bags of money.
Who doesnt need money in their lives?? But, still I still am from the thinking that “all good things in life are free”
I have a simplistic approach to life..so that helps me…but now that I have a little daughter…my hubby and I are trying to work hard to get that leg strong.
Am keeping my FIngers crossed hoping my conscience will give me the thumbs up to go ahead.
.-= Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Multiple Personality By Choice! =-.
I completely agree with the necessity for wealth, health, and relationships! I’ve also noticed, for me, the need for space. I can’t think in clutter and I don’t have room to work on my purpose.
I think that the main leg of our tripod is probably “health”. Without it, we literally can’t enjoy our relationships, build wealth, and basically rock our lives. So I’m really glad that you listed in first.
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..Marriage on The Brink =-.
You know, Hayden, it’s funny… I completely agree that Health is the main one. When that one is seriously threatened, the others become almost irrelevant (temporarily). It’s interesting to me how we tend to focus a lot of energy on the other two… getting more money, and forming lasting relationships, but don’t really think about Health until it is threatened.
Bottom line: they are all worthy of our attention. Maybe some come more naturally than others.
Excellent guest post! I really like the tripod analogy. It really does take all three to lead a balanced life. The one of these that I am currenlty working on is relationships. I’ve been working to more fully develop my relationships with friends and family. A big part of this is making time for them. The wealth leg sometimes comes in conflict with this, with the hours my current job requires, but I’m doing the best I can and making an effort.
.-= Eric | Eden Journal´s last blog ..WIN a $25 Amazon Gift Card! 5 Weeks of Contests, 5 Chances to WIN =-.
@Lisis: Thanks for letting me post here. I feel you on the wealth piece considering I’ve been jobless since graduating from school. I guess balance is necessary but not necessarily easy.
@Sherri: I got some advice once from a personal development teacher who said “You want the simple secret to all of this. Don’t do anything that doesn’t make you happy.”
@Zeenat: I think wealth is important. I don’t think it makes you materialistic to want to be at a point where you don’t have to worry about money. It’s only when your let go of the others in order to make money that you lose balance and become materialistic.
@Eric: The relationship piece can be tough when you have a job that’s very consuming because you want to be able to support the people you’re in relationships with and that’s wealth at work.
.-= Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..Guest Post: Why Passionate Networking Gives More Than It Gets =-.
Excellent post. Great Tripod analogy.
I’ve found that as we expand and as we let go, much of this wisdom comes naturally. When the mind is no longer in conflict, it sees clearly. Then it’s easy experience. Relationships are love and learning. Health is being aware and healing and accepting. Wealth is a form of energy exchange, not the most important thing, but it tends to make some things go smoother.
Thanks!
.-= Kaushik´s last blog ..You don’t need no F-thing =-.
@Kaushik: I find my mind has been in conflict in so much of my life when I look back and this really is the highest destiny of what we are put on this earth to accomplish. I believe that once you achieve balance the sky is no limit in terms of what’s possible in our lives.
.-= Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..Guest Post: Why Passionate Networking Gives More Than It Gets =-.
Great post, Srinivas! It’s great to see you writing here over on Quest for Balance!
I think tai chi or taiji and qigong can dramatically improve your health and lifestyle. It clears all the bad energy in the body. Also helps to Be VERRy Happy and melt into the “now” or how you want to call it.
sorry it’s too long, but you have to read it.It’s dangerously funny
JOKE: The interview with God.
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
So you would like to interview me? God asked.
If you have the time I said.
God smiled. My time is eternity.
What questions do you have in mind for me?
What surprises you most about humankind?
God answered…
That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.
That they lose their health to make money…
and then lose their money to restore their health.
That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.
“That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.
God’s hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.
And then I asked…
As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons
you want your children to learn?
To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved.
To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.
To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.
To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.
To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.
To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently.
To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.
“Thank you for your time,” I said humbly.
“Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?”
God smiled and said,
Just know that I am here… always.
funny huh
Florin, this is beautiful! I love it! I need to print this and keep it right near my computer, so I can remind myself from time to time. The good news is: I am already rich! (Because I NEED the least.)
Thank you!!
I enjoyed this, Srinivas.
I agree with Hayden, you named the big three, but I’m goofy and need a fourth leg – space. Maybe it was from growing up in the middle of nowhere (?) but I definitely need alone time and space or I can’t think straight.
I also liked what you said about family. We can always make our own family by adopting great friends along the way, too. That approach has really helped me, actually. Many of those friends are right here!
Thank you!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..The Audacity of Arachnids =-.
Very good post! I coincidentally just finished an article about finding balance too. Personally I need to work on my health, wealth AND relationships. Lately I have been too heavily dedicated to my spiritual and emotional development.
.-= Steven Handel´s last blog ..Six Aspects Of A Well-Balanced Person (Part 2) =-.
Hey Srinivas,
Great and simple post you have done here.
For me, happiness requires my health and relationship with people, but ultimately in my internal consciousness of the world. I need to be aware of my emotions, thoughts to be able to learn what I am doing that is right and wrong. I guess you can call it “personal consciousness”. To be able to have the psychological and emotional well being and wisdom on how to deal with life and advance within it.
Thanks for the post Srinivas, great to see you being a guest here at quest for balance.
Steven
.-= Steven´s last blog ..Want Motivation? – Then Scare Yourself S***less =-.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Christopher , Frank Barrett. Frank Barrett said: The Tripod of Balance: Health, Wealth, and Relationships … bit.ly/2iOgEv [...]
@STeven Handel: I guess I could see how spiritual development could get in the way of balance, but I think it’s kind of an essential undertaking to achieving balance. Again, it’s about making sure other things don’t suffer.
@Steve: Emotions and thoughts are kind of the root of the tree in my mind. I can fall slave to my emotions at times and I know it gets me in trouble. My dad always gives me one piece of advice that I think is priceless: “don’t make any decisions when you are angry”. Glad to be posting here at Quest for Balance
.-= Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..Interviews with Up and Coming Bloggers: Rich Lazzara =-.