Juggling Methodologies Until…
The Balance Chart began development around two years after the GameDay. With the spirit of the 7 Habits in my consciousness, I began to see the solution for becoming healthier and fit as a system of habits as opposed to diets and routines.
Having read about many diets and experiencing many workout programs, I became increasingly overwhelmed by the many methodologies. One day I would be excited about a new diet or workout craze, and the next day I would be doubtful of their effectiveness because another program would come along proclaiming to be even more effective than the last.
As the Balance Chart became clear in my mind’s eye, a sense of peace came over me, because it was a broad enough context to capture all the habits from the programs I encountered, thus supporting them while not being restricted by them.
I started playing with an idea around the word balance. Since I love the power of acronyms, I asked myself the question, “Can I address the most important areas in health and fitness with the word balance?”.
Over time I created the seven building blocks of health and fitness – Breath, Aqua, Lengthen, Anaerobic, Nutrition, Cleanse, and Energize.
As the Game evolved I realized how the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart became the connection between the other two dimensions of the YDBG; fitness and consciousness. Another revelation from using the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart showed us that each of the seven building blocks are worlds unto themselves.
Each one has many authors out there that have spent a lifetime researching, writing, and educating us about the many different habits and possibilities within these interconnected worlds.
There are a lot of apps and programs out there that track habits, but none of them are designed with the same consciousness as the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart. Remember, when it comes to programming, all code is not equal.
Therefore, the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart was not developed until I had a thorough understanding of the principles and context taught in the 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey.
The 7 Habits teaches you a new paradigm in which to be more effective in living life by recoding your ineffective beliefs and paradigms with principle-based paradigms and effective beliefs.
If the developers of these other apps have not attained a certain level of mastery in their thoughts and actions around these teachings then it would be difficult for them to code it into their programs.
At this time, I would like to reiterate the importance of reading the 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People so that you are able to experience two things:
- How the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart is the step-by-step action plan for the first three habits; being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and putting first things first.
- How the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart is habit number seven, sharpening your saw.
B.A.L.A.N.C.E. & Being Proactive
Let’s examine what it is to be proactive and how it ties into the development of the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart and its impact on you. The essence of being proactive is choice.
When I say essence, I am referring to the quintessential aspect of what it is to really be proactive. Or, for the layperson, the power that you have access to when you master the habit of being proactive.
Quite often you will notice how many different diets and eating plans tell you what to eat, the amount to eat, and when to eat. It seems exciting because you know that it is going to work for you this time and be the miraculous solution to your suffering and confusion, but it still falls short.
Why? Because they do not take into consideration that most people are unconsciously reacting to the programs in their environment. Whereas, proactive people are able to respond to the stimuli in their environment making wise choices as opposed to emotional choices.
This means that as they are reading your new diet program they are excited and committed until they look up and see McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts sitting in front of them at work reminding them that the McDonalds program has proven to be more comforting and supportive in their emotional time of need than their newest diet plan.
Basically, when you have lost the power to choose you simply react to the environment that you are around carrying out the unconscious program that is in front of you.
The B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart was intentionally designed to subconsciously teach and code the user how to exercise their power of choice moment to moment as they go in and out of new environments and are exposed to a plethora of unhealthy programming on a daily basis.
A Game of Choices
It starts with allowing the player to choose the habits that best suit them. Then, it empowers the user to choose how often they would like to practice their chosen habit within a week.
Finally, the user is given the power to choose when to exercise the habits throughout the week. Without their conscious mind ever realizing it, a beginner player in this game is learning how to practice choosing how to respond to life’s circumstances while still living within their current environments.
It is when their power to choose an effective choice in the face of circumstances becomes a habit that the root of their disease will start to heal.
Think about it, if people really believed that they can choose health then why would they be so invested in slow suicide?
As much as I emphasize the importance of choice, I would be remiss if I did not emphasize the importance of making wise choices. It is difficult to make wise choices when you cannot see the whole picture, seeing the forest from the trees as they say.
The world of health and fitness is inundated with fragmented, imbalanced, and short-sighted programming. Most of the top programs are selling you on 30, 60, and 90-day results. If you plan on living for only 90 more days, these are great programs to subscribe to.
At the same time, the consciousness and the coding necessary to be successful in these programs are not in alignment with beginning with the end in mind. Beginning with the end in mind does not mean losing 30 lbs by summer. It means getting clear on who you are inspired to become so that every choice you make is measured by being aligned or misaligned with whom you say you are becoming.
Every time you align, you made a wise choice.
Beginning With the End in Mind
The essence of beginning with the end in mind is having a mission or purpose statement. It is my belief that a wise purpose statement aligns with principles. Hitler had a purpose, but we can now see how it aligned with his ego.
The B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart was intentionally designed around balance so that merely being exposed to it aligns you to principles. The beauty of principles is that when you align with them life becomes more effortless and you become more powerful.
If it is your intention to stay around a little longer in this lifetime and more importantly to enjoy your stay, then returning back to balance each and every day is one of the wisest ingredients you can add to beginning with your end in mind.
The B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart then becomes a no-brainer. All you have to do is glance at it every day and the magic happens.
This brings us to how the habit of putting first things first is coded deeply into The B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Chart .
In the 7 Habits we are taught that once you have created your purpose, it is essential to understand what the most important roles are in your life.
Covy goes on to teach us that as long as we make a concerted effort to accomplish something in each role within the week, we can rest assured that we will be on track to living a very effective and fulfilling life – even if we don’t get everything done.
