The concept of wellbeing is extraordinary to me. In the dictionary it is defined as a good, healthy, or comfortable state. But it can include a wide range of areas in our lives, can't it?

 

There is mental wellbeing, where you have clear, understandable thoughts and ideas, plans to follow, good habits of self-care, self-talk and creative solutions to problems.

 

Then there is emotional wellbeing: ability to recognize what we are feeling in the moment, including knowledge of our own inner landscape, the temporary nature of most emotions and understanding and accepting others feelings. 

 

Physical wellbeing results from feeling naturally comfortable in our own skin and having a sense of health, paying attention to our body's signals of comfort and discomfort and making healthy choices.

 

Financial wellbeing is attained through not only having your finances in order, but understanding your relationship to money, having an awareness of how money moves, and discovering your highest purpose-for your career path, values and beliefs.

There is a common vein running through all these types of wellbeing and that is knowing who you really are. The better you know yourself, the more you will be inclined to increase your own wellbeing in all areas.

So who are you? This is the big question that underlies healing, growing, improving, and finding purpose and happiness in our lives. A sense of wellbeing is a deep continuous source of ever-present joy that we can uncover by discovering who we really are.

Ways to begin fostering a sense of wellbeing:

Mentally:
1) Become aware of your self-talk
We all tell stories to ourselves all day long, and 90% of our thoughts are the same we had yesterday! Begin observing your thoughts. You are not your thoughts.
Catch yourself when you begin to judge, complain, or say self-defeating things to yourself. Ask "Is this true?"
2) Spend sometime alone everyday, in prayer, meditation or just out in nature walking or sitting. Connect to your inner-self; ask yourself "Who am I?" You may not get an answer, but it is good to begin this exploration. You will become more aware of the choices you have of who you can be, removing limitations. 
Physically:
1) Begin listening to the messages your body is continually sending, hungry, full, tired, headache, etc. We have become so outwardly focused that we tend to work through exhaustion, eat past full, stay up past tired and ignore that oncoming headache. Listen and take appropriate action. If you start to get a headache, swiftly switch your activities, thoughts or focus to something that pleases you and relax, if only for ten minutes. It is amazing how this simple refocusing can ward off pain. Go to sleep when you are tired and be mindful of how your belly feels while eating so you stop as soon as you near a full feeling.
2) Move. Walk more; take the stairs, park away from the building. My mother-in-law, mom to six, used to tell them to "Go outside and blow the stink off!" Stretch like a cat when you wake up. Remember the blissful feeling you had as a child playing outside, running and swinging. Find activities that give you that feeling of comfort in your skin.
Financially:
1) Take the Money Map quiz on my site to see where you fall on the levels of money consciousness. The results will generate an analysys from us. Then, really look at the level you are transitioning into next, and think about what that next level means to you. What would your next logical step be? Can you imagine being comfortable on that higher level of knowledge and understanding? What information is necessary to enable you to move on up the scale?
2) Financial housekeeping: Clean out all old unnecessary statements. Organize your accounts, merge smaller ones, total your assets and debts.  Make a plan to pay yourself first-set up a savings where you can see your balance growing. Pay down the debts, beginning with the highest interest charged. Find aspects about your financial situation that are positive and begin to build from there. For example, if you are contributing to your company's employee retirement plan, raise that contribution a little. And pat yourself on the back. It is high on the money map to embrace your situation right now, know you did the best you could in the past, and move forward with the intention to really prosper.

Don't think  that you have to do this all at once! Pick an idea or two in each category that resonates with you, and start there.  Read uplifting books and articles. Do things that make you feel good! Happiness comes from inside.

In the upcoming issues we will delve with more detail into these ideas. The answer will always lie within you, and it is all about bringing out your own creativity, brilliance and gifts so we will all benefit!

 

 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Make sure you have an adequately diversified retirement account, one that includes money market, short-term bonds and foreign stocks as well as US stocks. Most people had too much in US stocks during the recoent downturn. These other securities will help buffer a decline. Seek expert help to lower your risk.

 

 

Women's Money Map 

 

 

The Phoenix Center for Prosperity and Wellbeing was created with the intention to present information, guidance and enthusiastic support to foster balance and wellbeing for our readership, clientele and friends, in alignment with thier own lifelong intentions. 

 

Brent Kessel is both the C.E.O. of Abacus Portfolios and President and co-founder of Abacus Wealth Partners, named one of the "top 250 wealth management firms in the U.S." by Bloomberg Wealth Manager. A cutting-edge firm, Abacus focuses on the inner dimensions of money as a critical component of the financial planning process and is widely acknowledged within the wealth management industry as a national leader in this niche.

At Osprey we offer Abacus Portfolios.

 

 

Brent Kessel's highly recommended book.

 

 

 

 "If we want to change something about our relationship to money, that change must originate from the inside out, and not from the outside in. We must become interested students in what motivates us to act the way we do with money before we can have any hope of transformation.

Most people's financial behaviors and choices are driven by powerful internal forces over which we feel we have little control. These archetypal forces, so ingrained in our culture and personalities, can affect us in balanced, healthy ways as well as in unhealthier ways, whether we are wealthy or struggling to make ends meet. Most people have become fixated on one set of financial beliefs and behavior patterns--one archetype--in response to particular life experiences. With great skill, willingness, and vigilance, we can transcend unconscious conditioning and experience a significant amount of freedom around money"

We are planning a weekend retreat this summer! One that will leave you inspired, educated on the secrets about money, refreshed with optional yoga, and proven ways to reduce stress! To be announced soon.