Capitalizing on The Slowdown: 4 Coping Skills that can create Priceless Returns for Your Time

In these times of economic slowdown, I hope you're noticing the many opportunities to stretch the currency of your time. In the book, "the Power of Full Engagement,"  the author lays out the importance of creating balance between the four quadrants of life: emotional, spiritual, physical and mental. In our age of "just plain busy-ness," he suggests the emotional and mental states are overly emphasized at the expense of the spiritual and physical aspects. I couldn't agree more. Thus, our out of shape edgy selves have a great opportunity to trade material wealth for  the joy of touching into a Spiritual source and the rejuvenating gift of physical exercise in times of economic meltdown.

Sure, there's plenty of reasons to stress out because of money, but if you've ever been sick you'll remember the poverty of illness can be much worse. Our bodies are amazing and resilient, but we can't draw down our reserves for long before imbalance turns into disease on physical and mental levels. Thus, when we invest in balancing our lives, we create a wholeness that pays off in enjoyment and effectiveness, no matter how confusing our daily circumstances become. We can create habits that maintain a reserve and a flow that gives stability to our inner life, and that can get us through the toughest of times. So with that in mind, what better way to spend any newfound free time in these times of slow down, than to catch up on the other quadrants of your life? Here's some suggestions to help round yourself out, enjoy!

1. Exercise is a great path to sanity. If you have a sensitivity or even an allergy to exercise start small, be gentle. Try a free week at a nearby gym, enjoy a daily swim, listen to the tv shows and music as you spin or elipticize at your own pace--just keep moving and enjoy it because it's for a limited time only! Have you found that the things you spend money on now, you're more motivated to reap the full benefits of then before in the illusion of plenty?  With that in mind, buying a gym membership at this time may be an excellent way to commit to your well being. After all, health is the greatest wealth!

2.Create routines for the beginning of your day. You'll be amazed what a brisk walk in the morning does for your mindset- sure it may be hell for the first week or two but hang in there. It's a beautiful way to start the day with someone you love, be they four legged or two legged. Early morning or early evening is a great way to sink into the relaxed mode of tenderness, with the sun rising or setting gently in the sky, let it  remind you of all the blessings you already have. After all, gratitude is a great way to get into the Spirit of love.

3. Break out of the mental routine of asking yourself lame questions. Have you ever asked yourself why you were such an idiot, or a jerk, or whatever? That's a perfect example of how we make undesirable circumstances into awful conditions: what can't be made worse by adding in self-reproach or disgust?  A great technique is to breathe out the negative and reframe the question in the positive. For example, "How am I able to write such an informative article to benefit bizniks in such little time?" My inner critic would love to mull over sentence structures and footnotes, but I'm counting on feedback from y'all to help me hone my skills ; )  After all, our Higher selves recognize that a learning experience provides more wisdom than hesitating for perfection's sake.

4. Recognize what is important to you. If you had 3 weeks to get all your affairs in order before meeting your Maker- would you really spend it filing? Maybe so, but let's say that your life insurance is in order, (and your insurance company's still solvent for that matter). What would you do to show those around you, and yourself, that you understood the journey and the gift of your life? After all, the business of life is the work we're all here to do, no matter the external circumstances. Enjoy it fully!