How cool would it be if we came with a user manual? If our moods and actions and the best paths for us weren’t such a mystery?

Alas, we were tossed into this life left to grow and survive without much guidance other than the knowledge passed down before us from whichever random assortment of adults were tasked with our survival and schooling (people who are also very much struggling to figure things out btw).

Very few of us were deliberately taught the critical skills of mastering our emotions and competently managing our minds and lives.

Why’s This Even Important?

Decisions are how we construct our lives. They tell people who we are and what we will tolerate. They tell us who we are and what we will tolerate.

Emotions are how we manage these decisions, execute with courage, and they determine our capacity to enjoy our lives and relationships.

Relaxation is not a luxury– it unlocks our abilities to think better and recover from life’s inevitable hardships and the stresses of our efforts. 

Learning is crucial to growth and change. Gaining knowledge from trusted sources and extracting lessons from our own experiences are how we expand into our potential. Organization supports the paths to our goals.

Physical Health and Adventure- The physical integrity and upkeep of our bodies (as best we can) forms the foundation of feeling well and living well. Nurturing a spirit of adventure doesn’t have to mean planning a massive trek up Mt. Everest. To me, developing a sense of adventure broadens your perspective, emboldens you to take a chance on new experiences, and stay curious about people and the world around you.

These five major pillars are what I have found to be foundational in developing the skill of total self-management—the basis for navigating life and relationships well.