The Ideal Components of Your Grid of Life
Last week I wrote an introductory post about an idea from the book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway: the Grid of Life.
Our life grids being confined to nine squares emphasises that there is only so much we can give our full attention to at one time. So what, ideally, should our grids contain?
Self-Care. Making exercise – preferably including some yoga - and meditation regular activities in your life will only be beneficial. Getting enough sleep is also vital.
Relationships.
“One conclusion was blatantly clear from my happiness research: everyone from contemporary scientists to ancient philosophers agrees that having strong social bonds is probably the most meaningful contributor to happiness.”
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
“It’s the quality of your relationships that matters. Simply put, living in the midst of warm relationships is protective of both mind and body.”
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. As it says on the homepage of Robert Waldinger’s website “The Good Life is Built with Good Relationships”.1
Paid Work. Even if your paid work does not exactly fulfil you, the vast majority of us have to earn money to attain our needs for food, water, shelter, and therefore restful sleep, since sleeping without adequate, safe shelter or a full belly is not a situation anyone wants to be in.2
Activities That Bring Us Joy.
“If we don't experience much joy, we will have no reservoir to draw from when hard things happen, so they feel even more painful.”
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
With paid work taking up a square, that means you’ve got 8 squares left to divide, ideally quite evenly, between the remaining three of self-care, relationships, and activities that bring you joy.
From my post Why It Is Imperative That Social Anxiety Be Conquered.
From my post Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee: To Start.