If there were only two words that characterize our society over the
past 30 years, it would be "transformational change." Not unlike an
individual struck with catastrophic or long-term illness, corporate
America has been forced to transform its lifestyle or die.
The rapid advancement of technology has required all of us to change
or at best, fall far behind in fully functioning within our
society/culture. For the individual, corporate downsizing and the
associated employee layoffs have destroyed the concept of lifetime
employment. Likewise, heart disease and cancer (which accounts for
over 70 percent of premature deaths) shatters one's concept of
permanent health and immortality. Excluding accidents,
lifestyle-driven illnesses account for over 85 percent of deaths
occurring before age 63. The essential shift from manufacturing to
informational and service companies accounts for over 65 percent of
business failure before the enterprise is three years old.
In their relentless search for more and more profit, many
corporations have neglected their greatest assets that generate that
profit...the people employed in the business. With a survival
mentality, employees are now seen as financial liabilities and are the
first to go when the economy of the corporate culture turns downward.
In our greedy and insecure drive to accumulate money and material
goods, many of us have neglected our greatest assets in creating
maximum health as well as material success...ourselves and our
relationships to those around us.
Failing to recognize the transformational value of interdependence,
we continue to depend on others to take care of us, both on the level
of personal health as well as personal income. Most of us depend on
healthcare providers to fix us after we become ill, rather than work
interdependently to prevent illness from occurring in the first place.
In precisely the same manner, we look to businesses, corporations and
unions to take care of our personal income and benefits, rather than
working interdependently with business leaders and managers to prevent
personal and corporate illness and create financial success for both.
Most of us have never focused on developing the personal skills we
each have to prevent illness or to be successful in a business
enterprise. The health of the individual is precisely the same as the
health of a business. The skills required to be well in all aspects
of your life are the same as those needed to be successful in any
business enterprise.
The basic and most important aspect of success in creating a well
individual, group or business is self-awareness. Any coping with
change requires an awareness of the potential (usually hidden) in the
self. Within each of us are the seeds for ongoing mastery of the
business, family, body, mind, emotions and spirit. Becoming
acquainted with, and empowered by, this self, (its talents and
abilities), is the single most essential activity for creating
wellness within all aspects of your lifestyle.
Some of these assets for wellness include: ability to learn; to
discriminate between what is true or real and what is false and
delusion; a positive mental attitude; personal integrity; eagerness to
take full responsibility for your choices, decisions and behavior; a
sense of humor; openness and willingness to change; self-discipline
(the willingness to practice those necessary activities when you don't
feel like it); habitual behavior based on time-honored principles
rather than reaction to the immediate situation; ability to take
moderate and realistic risks; curiosity and openness to feedback from
others; planning ahead and carrying out your plans; acknowledging the
value of every individual including yourself; self-caring so as to be
able to effectively care for others; vision of a desired future;
reverence for all life; appreciation and gratefulness for who you are,
what you have, and the people with whom you are interdependent; desire
to understand others; desire for interdependent intimacy.
All of these assets you have used at least once in your life. They
are the seeds, which if nurtured and developed, lead to creating a
healthy self as well as a healthy business. Like the chief executive
officer of a business, you are the CEO of your life. Recognize your
own power to change, and use your inherent talents to create both your
own health and your own wealth.
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Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist, author, speaker, and life
coach. He serves on the faculty of the International University of
Professional Studies. He recently co-authored (with Patrick Williams)
the book: "Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills and
Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice...and Your Life!" (W.W. Norton
2005) It is available at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.
