Picture yourself as a square divided into four quadrants labeled Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual.
A quick way to boost your personal growth is to think of what exercises, habits, practices or routines you have for each area. How do you regularly stretch your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual muscles?
Don’t worry if you struggle to come up with something for one or more areas. It takes time to find routines for each quadrant that work with both your schedule and your interest level. If you already have a habit in an area, celebrate it! That makes balancing your life that much easier.
While a rough balance between quadrants is the goal, each of is inclined toward one or more of them. For me, it’s Spiritual. You might be more developed in Physical or Mental. That’s totally fine. Think of a stool—as long as each of the four legs is stable, you’re sitting on a dependable foundation. It’s when one or more of them is weak or missing that you’re probably headed for a tumble.
So what types of practices might work for you in each area?
PHYSICAL
My morning routine is ten minutes of overall stretching with a few strengthening exercises to address my lower back issues. Then I walk up and down the stairs of my condo building for cardio. Three or four times a week, my wife and I do about fifteen minutes of yoga as well (Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube). You may prefer running, walking, going to the gym, basketball, tennis, swimming, or hiking. The goal is not to make the Olympics—just find some kind of modest physical activity that you enjoy and that works with your schedule. Once you have a routine, you’ll find yourself thinking clearer and having more energy throughout the day.
MENTAL
My current practice is regularly playing chess against a computer (chess.com) and taking writing classes on MasterClass.com. In the past, I’ve done brain games on lumosity.com. You might try sudoko, crossword puzzles, strategy games or learning a foreign language. They all help enhance your mental acuity.
EMOTIONAL
To tone my emotional muscles, I regularly donate plasma and volunteer at a food pantry. Serving others not only helps them, it gives me an emotional boost and makes me more grateful for what I have. Visiting museums, traveling and spending time with friends also fills my emotional tank. For you it could be gardening, walking, a hobby or volunteering. Find what’s uniquely energizing to you.
SPIRITUAL
My morning routine consists of ten minutes of meditation, ten minutes of spiritual growth reading (often the writings of Richard Rohr and Henri Nouwen sent via daily emails), and twenty minutes talking with God. I then try to maintain a mindful awareness of God throughout the day. Before bed, I spend five to ten minutes reflecting on any insights I gained and expressing gratitude for good things that happened that day. Once a week, I meet with my long time friend and accountability partner to share our spiritual successes and struggles. Your spiritual practices might include meditation, yoga, attending a religious service, time in nature or reading sacred writings like the Quran, the Talmud, or the Bible.
So how are your quadrants? Which ones feel stable and which might need a little tending? Be honest, but not hard on yourself. Celebrate your successes. Find simple practices that work for you. If you do, you’ll enjoy a more fulfilling, balanced life, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.