Wouldn’t it be awesome to be more awesome?
In their book Oola – Find Balance in an Unbalanced World, Dr. Dave Braun and Dr. Troy Amdahl define Oola as a “state of awesomeness.”
I think, as a young professional, it’s so important to our overall health and wellbeing to achieve a strong work-life synergy. Many of us at Siegfried started our careers tucked away in a cubicle with no windows for days and nights on end with no relief, no rewards, and no purpose.
And although I can see it now, I didn’t think much of it at the time. I didn’t realize how much it was affecting the many aspects of my life that go into making someone a well-rounded and genuinely happy person.
The Oola guys break it down into seven simple areas of our life (that all happen to start with the letter “F”) that need to be in balance to achieve a “state of awesomeness.”
Fitness
Not only is physical fitness great for the body, but it’s also even better for the mind and can significantly improve your quality of life. It enables you to do the physical activities you love to do while also making you look and feel great. It gives us a sense of confidence, whether it is because we look good or because we can do more of what we love.
Finance
Money doesn’t equal happiness, so this concept isn’t saying you need to be the wealthiest person in the world to achieve a balanced life. But being financially aware and responsible to the point that it isn’t a constant stressor in your life is very important. Try to get to a place that you can live a comfortable life without throwing these other important Oola factors off balance. Start making a plan to eliminate debt, don’t take on too much at one time, only spend within your means, and save for your future.
Family
Because you cannot choose your family, these relationships can sometimes be complicated. It’s important to nurture your relationships with these people because they can be a constant source of love and support, which promotes good mental health. Growing up in a healthy family environment also instills moral values that carry you through your life and guide you to make the right decisions and treat others with kindness and respect.
Field
Field doesn’t necessarily mean your job or career. More generally, this is the role you play in the world and how you contribute to society every day. A job that causes stress or takes away from other responsibilities and aspects in life doesn’t promote a balance. You are not in balance if you live a day-to-day life that isn’t fulfilling but makes you a ton of money. And you’re also not in balance if you live a day-to-day life that you absolutely love but make no money because then that throws your financial area off balance. The ultimate goal is to find something in between!
Faith
The definition of faith is the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Faith doesn’t have to mean religion, although generally, it does. It just means you’re confident, humble, and grateful for your place in the world and how things will work out. Faith gives people a more optimistic approach to thinking about life and making decisions.
Friends
Friends provide something different than family. They’re the people in your life that have common interests with whom you can share experiences. Because they aren’t tied to you by anything besides wanting to be your friend, they fill you with a sense of belonging and acceptance. We look for friends that will add value to our lives and challenge us rather than people who bring us down.
Fun!
Fun is unique to everyone! (And one of Siegfried’s values!) We all have different definitions of fun, but whatever it is, it triggers feel-good emotions leading to more genuine happiness overall.
Imagine a world where all of these factors were in complete balance with each other! The journey to making that a reality is rewarding in and of itself. Want to find out your Oola score and see if you’re living a balanced life? Rate your 7 Fs and become aware of where you may need to make some changes to start living your best life!
