Three Components to Achieving Well-Being – Taking the Long View
As a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, I tend to ponder things from a long view perspective. If I do this what will the situation look like in a few years? How will things change? Will things change for the better? Depending on the issue my long view could consider one year, five or even more years. For example, for raising a child to adulthood, my long view would consider my situation over a span of 18 years. Taking the long view of your life helps in assessing the state of your current well-being. Does my well-being tank have the capacity needed for me to achieve my view of well-being? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines well-being as “the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous.”
Taking a long view assessment of your well-being helps you makes decisions now that will manifest your desired well-being in the future. Continuing our example of raising a child, if you want your child to attend college, there are some decisions you can make while it is young to assure he/she attends college such as setting up a college saving investment plan. A decision made now could impact your well-being farther down the road. A long view Well-Being Assessment involves three key components; identifying what you need, correctly, deciding on the best route to achieve well-being, and determining the capacity and resources in your well-being tank. Let’s consider each of these key components.
IDENTFY WHAT YOU NEED, CORRECTLY – Getting this step correct will impact the actual realization of your well-being. Your long view of your well-being may identify multiple things you will need. Some may be immediate needs, and some things may be needed later. Spend time identifying what you need, keeping in mind the long view of your well-being. Meditate on it, envision your realized well-being, and compare your circumstances, then and now. What decisions do you need to make NOW to realize the long view of your well-being? We all have different and multiple needs. Be real-honest with yourself in identifying what you need to achieve well-being.
DECIDE ON THE BEST ROUTE – Achieving your long view well-being requires that you take actions that move you towards your desired state of well-being. Taking these actions sets you on a route to your well-being. What you need to achieve a “state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous” will define your route to well-being. Your route may pose challenges in terms of duration, information/knowledge or skill requirements, high-risk health care decisions, time demands, and other resource needs. On the other hand, the route you choose may be level and clear all the way because you or others have already prepared the way. The BEST route may not be the less challenging route. Although we sometimes have to make trade-off decisions and compromises, do not do so off handedly, without thought or preparation. Remember what you learned when you identified what you need for well-being and choose the route that will get it for you.
DETERMINE YOUR CAPACITY AND RESOURCES – The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines capacity as “the ability to do something: a mental, emotional, or physical ability.” Your state of well-being tank determines whether you achieve your desired well-being. Your tank may be full, empty, or somewhere in between. To achieve your well-being may first require that you build-up or strengthen your capacity and resources. If your long view well-being involves a job promotion maybe you first need to build-up your capacity for the new position by gaining more experience and/or job training. If your long view is home ownership maybe you first need to build-up your monetary resources. Your capacity and resources influence your route decision. Oftentimes the direct route is not an option because of the capacity of your well-being tank is limited. When your well-being tank has a limited capacity, your route to well-being must include stops for replenishment or other delays. Stay aware of your capacity and resources and make decisions NOW to increase your capacity and resources so that you can stay on your route to your well-being.
