 |
Login for Members ONLY
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
COMENSANews August 2010
|
|
|
 |
|
|
COMENSA posted on August 07, 2010 13:18
|
By Lorraine le Roux “These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.”
Comedian George Carlin shortly after his wife passed on. |
Defining balance |
While sifting through literature to find a definition for balance, it became clear that it might be easier to describe what balance is not; because the price of following an unbalanced approach to life is likely to become apparent sooner or later when a person ignores important aspects of his/her life long enough.
According to the online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, “balance” refers to a stable mental or physiological state. While “work-life balance” is a broad concept which includes prioritizing between “work” (career and ambition) on the one hand and “life” (pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development) on the other. |
|
| The problem |
| While it was predicted at the beginning of this century that technology would enable people to have more time for leisure activities, quite the opposite is happening: People work more and longer hours and have less time to exercise and relax; they spend much less time on spiritual development and the nurturing of important relationships. Many are experiencing burnout due to overwork and increased stress and the problems associated with stress have become a concern for both employers and employees. |
| |
| Unmanaged stress has an impact on a person’s performance as it can lead to poor coping skills, irritability, jumpiness, insecurity, exhaustion and difficulty concentrating. In addition, stress may lead to a compromised immune system with a host of associated health problems. Addictive behaviour such as binge eating, smoking and alcohol consumption are also more likely to be perpetuated by a stressful lifestyle. (Wikepedia - The Online Encyclopaedia) |
| |
| Not always bad. |
| Dr. Hans Selye, a great pioneer and leader in the field of stress, suggests that there are two kinds of stress: distress and eustress. Distress comes from hating your work, resenting the multiple pressures of life, and feeling you are a victim. Eustress comes from the positive tension between where we are now and where we want to go (for example a meaningful goal that taps into our talents and passion). Dr. Selye’s research showed that eustress braces the immune system and increases longevity and enjoyment of life. In short, we shouldn’t avoid stress if it is the right kind of stress – eustress - provided it is tempered and balanced by proper rest and relaxation. |
| |
| When values are not aligned |
| In “Women Of Spirit” by Catherine Martin, Rergina Balinger relates how she, as controller of a large New England law firm began to suspect that something critical was missing in her life and how, although she was very successful in adapting to the predominantly male culture, the feeling of discomfort grew until she decided to leave the company. She attributes the discomfort she experienced to the fact that she had grown away from her personal values to fit into a culture which recognized only those characteristics which made her useful in a highly competitive business culture. She learned that it is more important to choose a balanced definition of success that reflects internal values as opposed to the externals of house, car and salary. |
| |
| The Solution |
| To enable clients to have a more balanced approach to work and life, a dual approach is necessary where the employer introduces policies which will allow for more personal time as well as life skills programs which teaches skills transferable to both work and personal life (Jim Bird – worklifebalance.com ) |
| |
The Life Balance Pyramid (Lancaster General) serves as a useful model to support clients to experience more balance and satisfaction on a spiritual, emotional, physical and cognitive level: |
| |
| The base of the pyramid represents the foundation for balance and reminds one to reflect on personal values, goals and choices as well as spiritual development. |
| |
| The middle area encourages the development of emotional well being and social connections. It emphasises proper physical nourishment, exercise and rest as well as allowing for pleasurable experiences. |
| |
| The top of the pyramid represents the skills that one needs to cope with daily challenges and includes positive self talk, deep breathing and envisioning. |
|
| |
| The model is flexible and we are encouraged to create our own ideas because balance represents a continuing strife to align what we want, with what is possible. |
| |
"People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never."
Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| |
References:
Wikepedia the online encyclopaedia
Women of Spirit: Martin, Katherine (2001)
Lancaster General www.lancastergeneral.orgn
Jim Bird: worklifebalance.com
The 8th Habit (From Effectiveness to greatness) Covey, Stephen (2004)
About the Author:
Lorraine Le Roux holds a Grad. Cert. Coaching, (SACAP), BA Psych. (UNISA) and a Dip. Logo Therapy (UNISA). She works as a support counsellor with women in destructive relationships, and has spent many years in the weight-loss industry. Lorraine coaches women to live balanced and satisfying lives and is in the process of gathering material for a book about a very different approach to weight-management which she plans to have ready by the end of this year. Lorraine can be contacted via her website: www.focusonmeaning.co.za, emailed on lorraine@focusonwellness.co.za or via her cell: 084 661 2479. |
| |
 |
Be part of the WHO’s WHO of Coach/Mentor Training |
 |
|
| |
| Are you: |
|
- An institution or organization that offers Coach and Mentor Training?
- Looking for a focused event to showcase your offerings?
- Wanting to boost your student numbers for the coming year?
|
| |
| Some of the most frequently asked questions relate to how one goes about becoming a coach, how to develop coaching skills to compliment the role they play in their current corporate position or they could develop their existing coaching skills. |
| |
The COMENSA National Coaching & Mentoring Training Organisation Expo will take place in Gauteng on Friday 19th November 2010 from 09h00 onwards.
If you are a Training Institution offering short courses, diplomas or degrees in Coaching or Mentoring, then this is the right forum for you! Please contact Nicolette Assy on 083 297 3510 or Leonie Prinsloo on 082 718 7052. |
| If you are interested in training to become a Coach or Mentor, or in furthering your learning in a particular direction, look out for the list of exhibitors (to be published in due course) |
|
|
|
| |
Join the Social Networking Revolution—Join the COMENSA Group on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) |
| |
|
There are currently no comments, be the first to post one.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|