Balancing Your Plate

Do you have a lot on your plate? Most of us do. There are times in our lives when we are overwhelmed, exhausted or even discouraged by all that we have to do. In this newsletter, I want us to take a look at your plate... not only what is on top of it, but what it is supporting it.

Your plate is usually full of all the things you have to do and all of the roles you have to play. If you look at it from above it may look like this...

Here, the green ball may represent the tasks and role of your job or business. The blue ball may represent your health and workout regimen. The red ball may represent your community activities. You get the picture, right? You have all these balls balancing on your plate every single day. Sometimes, one of them will roll close to the edge and you'll have to drop what you're doing to pay attention to it and bring it back to the center of the plate.  But, while you're doing that, another ball starts to roll off the edge.  Does that sound familiar?

We all know that focusing on keeping the balls on our plate is important, but how would it feel if we could bring our plate more into balance? What if it wasn't consistently leaning to one side or the other? What if we were to look at what is holding up your plate and could somehow steady your plate?Wouldn't a level, balanced plate make balancing everything on it much easier?

It's not what's on your plate, but what's under it

The main supports of your plate are your values and value judgments. Your values determine your choices. Your choices determine your actions. Your actions determine your results (which balls are firmly on your plate and which ones are teetering on the edge.) So, what determines your values? Quite simply, your thoughts.

As the science of axiology has uncovered, there are 3 classes of value into which every one of your thoughts fall.

There is SYSTEMIC value... conceptual or theoretical value. Constructs of the mind, expectations and ideas fall into this class of value. The value of perfection, black and white thinking; consistency, order, conformity; authority; anything that is part of a system - all fall under the systemic class of value.

There is the EXTRINSIC value class... practical or situational value. These are material values or concrete things. You can compare these things as in good, better or best. They have functional and material value. Your tasks and roles, what you do - all fall under the extrinsic class of value.

Then, there is INTRINSIC value... personal or spiritual value. These are the infinite, irreplaceable, worth of individuals. The immeasurable value of the unique and one-of-a-kind. Your own being, timeless principles like wisdom and integrity fall into the intrinsic value class.

In order to keep your plate balanced, your thoughts in each of these value classes must be balanced. What does that mean?

Well, if your brain tends to over focus on systemic thoughts, internal dialogue (thoughts) around YOUR ideas, processes and expectations would be very 'loud'. This may cause the supports of your plate to look like this...

If so, you will typically spend your time running after the balls that are falling off of your plate, trying to place them back in a more stable position... all the while other balls are rolling off of your plate (sometimes more than one.)

This is just one example... there are many, many more. For instance, you may be over focused on the extrinsic. I would call you a "human doing" instead of a human being. Your mind would be so preoccupied with your tasks, your looks, your title/position, your house, your car that it would over look or devalue the intrinsic and systemic elements of your life.

Do you get the picture?

Let's look at your supporting values

So, how do you know what the supporting values of your plate look like? Simple. Click here to take a free assessment. Don't worry, your results are completely confidential. (I won't see them.)

This assessment will show you which of your thought processes are the most balanced and which are the most out-of-balance. You will then be more aware of the sabotaging thoughts that you should choose to ignore and the supporting thoughts to which you should pay more attention.

It only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and it doesn't cost you a penny! Do it today! and bring your plate more into balance.
 

An Example

Still skeptical of the value of this assessment? I understand. Let me show you an example of what you could learn...

Here is a graph of a client's Empathy-Intuition Advisor. This graph represents their most clear and balanced thought processes which are intrinsic. They would have a terrific capacity to step into the world of another person and see the world through their eyes. When it comes to people, they could - if they chose to listen to these thoughts and act upon them - be a very good leader of people. They could empathize with them and actually get 40% more cooperation and productivity from those around them (as measured by Dr. Robert Hartman).

However, other thought processes and habits could interfere with the above advisor's capacity.  For instance...

This is the graph of the same client's systems thinking advisor. It represents an out-of-balance advisor or thought habits that could sabotage an individual. The internal dialogue represented in this graph would sound something like this... "My ideas are always so good! I'm great at finding the flaws and faults in the ideas of others. How can they not see what I see? My superiors aren't as smart as I am and my company has a bunch of rules that keep me from doing my job as best that I can. Why is it that I'm the only one who can see these things? It's not rocket science!"

Often times you will find that your out-of-balance advisors are 'louder' than your balanced advisors. This can cause you a great deal of difficulty when left unchecked. Take the first step in identifying the unbalance in your life...

1. Take the FREE ASSESSMENT! (even if you've taken it in the past)

2. Look at and Listen to your results online! (take notes on all of your advisors)

3. Schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation

4. Better understand the values that are supporting your plate and learn what you can do bring your plate more into balance (and make your life easier).

Sometimes in life we spend too much time with the superficial, extrinsic things (the balls on top of our plate). My hope is that today and in the future you will look a little deeper at your support structure and understand how your values are impacting your life. If you'd like to truly change some of the aspects of your life, you can only do that by changing your supporting values. There are no shortcuts! You and your dreams are worth the effort. Choose to change today!

Click here to view online.

April 8, 2008
PMI Houston - North
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Strack Farms
5707 Louetta
Spring, Texas 77379
(281) 376-0901

April 9, 2008
PMI Houston - Galleria
6:15 - 8:00 p.m.
HESS Club
5430 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77056
(713) 627-2283

April 22, 2008
PMI Austin
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Joe C. Thompson Conference Center
University of Texas
2405 R. Dedman Dr.
Austin, TX
(512) 471-3121

May 13, 2008
Nat'l Assoc of Procurement Managers - Greater New Orleans Chapter
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
New Orleans, LA

May 21, 2008
PMI Houston - Southwest
5:15 - 6:15 p.m.
Schlumberger
Sugar Land Campus
Forum Cafe
210 Schlumberger Dr.
(713) 513-2457

Use the button below to find out!

The 6 Advisors Assessment Report goes below the surface of behavior and personality and measures with great accuracy the thought processes that are driving your decisions and actions.

Your FREE Introductory Assessment Report will include the full measurements plus written narrative and helpful audio for two (2) of your 6 Advisors. We have selected the clearest and most balanced Advisor and your least clear Advisor.