“We aren’t meant to be perfect. We are meant to be whole. If you allow yourself, you can become stronger in the very places that you've been broken,” said Jane Fonda.
We all face a daily dose of challenges in the workplace. It comes with the territory. We can become distracted and lose sight of the bigger picture if we attempt to walk the tightrope of perfection. It’s a thin line and whether we like it or not, there will be days when we fall.
It is important to gently remove pressure from the accelerator and pause for a moment of reflection from time to time. We get caught up in the daily tasks of putting out fires, making ends meet or trying to give proper time and energy to all the areas of our lives.
We can remind ourselves that peace trumps perfection and consider how to align our life and work in a manner that offers purpose. For most of us, it will mean making minor tweaks or adjustments that, when fully embraced, will make all the difference. Even the most gifted and elite athletes need a time out to rest, reflect and restore.
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Dr. Jared DuPree, the CEO of Health and Wellness Solutions and the author of WholeFIT: Wellness for Life, brings together 19 experts to address various areas of wellness and how to become more wholly fit in all areas of life.
Dr. DuPree’s favorite quote is, “Sometimes we are meant to comfort the afflicted, sometimes we are meant to afflict the comfortable.” He points out that there are certain pains, wounds, roadblocks and stresses in our lives that need healing. He encourages us to make the choice to heal. There are certain comfort zones and malnourished areas in our lives that need to be “afflicted.”
In other words, sometimes we need a disruption or kick in the pants. Dr. DuPree believes it can be a great wake up call. As we consider how to be whole and well in all areas of our lives, we can each make those tweaks to find more peace, purpose and enjoyment in life.
Here are the four areas that Dr. DuPree encourages us to work on in his book:
Relationships
In the end, our relationships are what matter most. The time and energy to connect and make memories with family, coworkers and friends will be more important than anything else we could achieve. Forgive the imperfections in others. “Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand,” said Emily Kimbrough.
Body and Spirit
There are a lot of quick fixes that attempt to nourish our minds, bodies and souls, but they end with physical and spiritual emptiness. Feed and activate your body and spirit in a manner that truly builds them up. Listen to your body and spirit and let go of the high expectations, guilt and shame; rather, embrace fun activity, food that nourishes and things that help you embrace a positive life.
Inner Peace
Our thoughts, emotions, motivations, passions and life purpose can either bring daily strife or daily peace. Consider tackling negative thoughts and emotions by tapping into your natural motivations and passions. In other words, do more of what you love. In times when you feel trapped, recognize that no one can take hold of your thoughts and emotions – seek to find purpose and peace in all that you do.
Life Balance
When we take a step back and consider all the areas of our lives, which include our bodies, minds, spirituality, relationships, careers, hobbies, learning, motivations and life purpose, we realize that each area needs time and energy.
Dr. DuPree’s Life Integration Wheel helps people consider areas they need to adjust in order to be more balanced in each area of their lives. An interesting discovery is that as one area changes, the rest change as well.
For example, he has worked with individuals who have started to change their relationships, which, in turn, impact their physical health and career productivity. For more information on these topics, visit www.jareddupree.com or www.wholefitwellness.com.
