It is very important to be able to lead a balanced life if you are to be successful and happy. In our quest to be successful we tend to lose the ability to lead a balanced life. Our family, friends and community ends up competing for our attention.

Your spiritual needs are as important (if not more important) than the success you desire. If you maintain a healthy balance between all the important areas of your life, you will have a very strong foundation to work from.

To determine if you have a balanced life:

• Make a list of all the important areas of your life (family, work, spiritual).

• Calculate the amount of time you spend on each weekly.

• Make a list of your goals.

• Look at your goals and see if the important areas of your life are represented.

When looking at the answers to the above questions you have a problem if:

• You spend more than 70% of your available time on one area of your life.

• The important areas of your life are not represented in your goals (for instance if your goal is to become a monk and there is no place for your wife and kids in this goal).

Our situations change constantly and therefore your balance will also be affected constantly (sickness, retrenchment, death in the family and divorce to name a few). It is important to re-assess your lifestyle and balance regularly in order to maintain your focus and adapt your goals.

Your spiritual life is extremely important and it is a great motivator and guide if you allow it to be an important part of your daily routine. Quiet time spent in the mornings and evenings, reading the Bible, praying for guidance and allowing God to lead you revitalises the soul.

When you live your life with a healthy balance between all of the important areas of your life, problems tend to become opportunities and success follows. One of the tools towards living a balanced life is to join a group of likeminded people. This will allow you access to information and ideas and also fellowship.

Another important tool is communication. You need to communicate with your family/friends and allow them to communicate with you. By communicating you can express your feelings and better understand the feelings of others. It is dangerous to isolate yourself and this can quickly lead to depression and frustration.

Success without anybody to share it with is empty and meaningless. Always remember that what is important to you may not be important to anyone else. As stated by Sir Winston Churchill " The power of man has grown in every sphere except over himself".