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How to Stop Life From Slipping Through The Cracks: Part II

August 5, 2015 By Chip Valutis

All too often I see clients who slowly become “flat” in key aspects of life. Some recognize the trend and want help. Others feel it, but aren’t sure why it is happening or what to do about it. Small percentages get so accustomed to the empty feeling – it becomes the new normal and they drudge on….

Which are you?

In a previous post, I talked about this ‘slippery slope’ and challenged you to rate 5 critical areas of your life (1: job, 2: life, 3: marriage, 4: fun and 5: learning) to see where you are on scale from “Alive” to “Bitter.” If you didn’t see that post – read it now.

Since then, many have emailed me to say: “Ok, I did it – and I don’t like the answer! Now What?”

Fair enough. It is easy to begin slipping in any one (or more) of these critical areas. Life is tough and demanding. We don’t always have the time, energy or perspective to keep all areas in the “Alive” range. It just isn’t realistic.

At a minimum, however, try to hold your ground and not slip down the scale. Will you be perfect? No. Slippage will occur.

The goal of this article is to help you move “up” a notch in any category rated a “Groggy”, “Numb”, or “Bitter.”

Learning how to recognize and manage the “slippage factor” is a major life skill. Life will get flat. It is what it is. Being better prepared to respond and react is a powerful thing!

Try This:

Focus your effort in two primary areas to get things moving:

  1. Adding Depth
  2. Building Breadth.

Let me explain each:

Depth: Taking something you are already doing, but do more of it or do it “better.” The goal here is to enhance, improve or even increase the activity. Depth adds “richness” to your efforts.

Examples:

  1. If you volunteer at a charitable organization – try to get a leadership role and be more active and influential.
  2. You love to learn and you attend webinars when able. Why not audit a class at a local University or teach a class?

Breadth: Look for opportunities to “bolt on” to the area you are trying to improve. Find an adjacency by adding to, compounding or broadening the experience.

Examples:

  1. You like music – why not start guitar or piano lessons?
  2. You try to have a date night with your spouse whenever possible – why not join a bowling league and go out weekly for some fun?

Your Homework:

  1. Review (or complete) your ratings from the previous post.
  2. For at least one area rated Groggy, Numb or Bitter, write down a strategy or technique to add depth
  3. For another area rated low, write down how you will add breadth
  4. Launch your efforts. The key to combating the slippery slope is to start something. Adding Depth and/or Building Breadth is a good way to do that.
  5. Give it a month and then add another. You’ll be amazed at the amount of movement you can achieve with relatively little “change.”

Before you know it, all critical life elements will be trending toward “Alive” and well!

Filed Under: Plateaus & Treadmills

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About Chip Valutis

About Chip

As a Psychologist working in industry, I have heard and seen it all.

I’ve worked with Fortune 500 Companies as well as smaller, entrepreneurial enterprises. I coach CEOs and first time leaders. I develop new leadership teams and/or help teams who have lost their effectiveness. I work at an organizational level addressing complex systemic challenges and at an individual level helping leaders learn to lead.

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