Life's Balancing Act
By Teresa K. Flatley

Want to know if your life is in balance? Here's a short quiz:

• Do you spend 60% of your life (average) on your career?
• Do you feel rested when you wake up in the morning?
• Do you spend quality time with your loved ones each day?
• Are you energized after your workouts?
• Are you pursuing the interests you love?
• Do you feel you are getting ALL you deserve from life?
• Do you feel you are in control of your daily tasks?

SCORE: If you answered "no" to three or fewer of these questions, you are on the right path; four to six, you should STOP and take a look at where you are headed; seven, Yikes! Read on immediately!
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Rosemary Launikonis had planned on a full day. After working out at the gym early in the morning, she had several meetings scheduled in different parts of town. She was raring to go.

There was one small problem. As she parked her car at the gym, she realized she'd forgotten a change of clothes to wear to her business meetings later that day. But instead of worrying the thing to death, Rosemary promptly got on her cell phone and cancelled one of the appointments, carving out enough time to allow her to go home and change. Mission accomplished.

Rosemary admits that her calm solution to her problem was a relatively new thing for her. In the past, she would have spent most of that day spinning her wheels, trying to find a way to get everything done. Instead, she felt in control.

Because we are older now, Rosemary - considered a one-of-a-kind consultant by her clients -- thinks we feel more vulnerable when we make a mistake like forgetting something important. Her advice is to let people know what we've done. Air it out. It not only allows people to get to know us better, it also allows us to be ourselves, warts - or workout clothes - and all.

Balance has become a hot button topic. It's not good enough to get your work and your daily commitments done, you now need to make sure that all areas of your life are receiving your attention. (Most of us tend to lean one way or the other, way off the scale into work or leisure or home time.)

I'm OK, You're OK

But instead of giving us just one more thing to worry or feel inadequate about, balance is a necessity. That old saying that "all work and no play make John a dull boy" was based in fact. We KNOW these things: that to be happy we need to feel that everything - and often everyone -- around us is OK.

Getting a promotion at work doesn't mean much if your home life is falling apart. On the other hand, getting that same promotion doesn't mean much either if you have neglected your health and won't be around to enjoy the fruits of your labors. In this instance, you really do have to have it all.

"People need to do a good job at work," Rosemary says, adding that no one is telling them not to. But working a full day should be enough, without feeling the need or desire to stay late every day after coming in early. Weekends should be for relaxing, pursuing interests we love, spending time with loved ones and taking care of life's details.

Take a Reality Check

If you want to know if you are in control of your life, here's a quick reality check. Ask close friends how they see you. Are you really the balanced individual you think you're presenting to the world or do they see you as one-sided? Make sure you choose friends who will tell it like it is and not just parrot what you want to hear: "Sure, Joe, you're balanced. We haven't caught lunch together in months and you look a little pale from spending all day, every day, at your desk, but hey, you've got it altogether. Don't let anyone tell you differently."

Another good idea is to make a circle chart divided into segments labeled professional, spiritual, family, fitness and interests. Then take a look at your activities for the past few days or weeks. After marking down each activity you accomplished in the corresponding segment, are there equal amounts of checks in each area or does your circle resemble the Tower of Pisa with too many marks in one area?

Remember, only you can make the changes you need to achieve balance in your life. Ask yourself: What do you feel you deserve out of life? How do you plan on getting it?

Rosemary of Launikonis Consulting provides advice to her clients in the following areas: selling ideas, work environments, customized development and hiring and firing. She is the creator of the Women's Victory Journal and also has several other CDs available for purchase. Rosie is the owner of a Slim and Tone 30 Minute Workout for Women franchise in Wexford, PA. She can be reached at (412- 486-9460) or through rjlaunikonis@aol.com.