One thing all successful people have in common is vitality. I’ve seen vitality in a wheelchair and on the playing field. I’ve seen it in the octogenarian and the very young. Vitality is defined as “exuberant physical strength or mental vigor”. When exuberance becomes focused, a leader has now shifted into gear to become a world-changer. It starts by changing your own world by increasing your energy levels. As we begin the journey into an extraordinary year, consider these five elements of focused vitality.
1. Physical Vitality – Success requires you to get up, show up and demonstrate the perseverance to see a job through. Disciplined choices in the area of diet, exercise and rest can make all the difference. It’s said that our bodies are a temple, but most people treat theirs like a convenience store. Think about one small new healthy habit you can incorporate into your life. Start today!
2. Intellectual Vitality – Know yourself and your zone of genius. Focused vitality in this area enables you to be brilliant some of the time and competent the rest. A steady source of fuel is vital to keep you growing. Invest in books, podcasts or some mode of learning. I always schedule in a couple of conferences a year that are an investment in personal development. (Find Yourself by the Sea is coming up January 23 and 24th. An awesome weekend designed to build a better YOU.)
3. Psychological Vitality – A positive attitude is a powerful asset. The ability to effectively communicate with yourself and others is governed in this sphere. Words are the vitamins for your mind – speak well of yourself. Avoid toxic people as much as humanly possible.
4. Emotional Vitality is where inspiration and passion lie. Connecting your dreams to your daily actions fans the flame of motivation and pulls you into the future you’ve designed in your imagination. Build a vision board. Fuel your creativity by allowing yourself time to play. Yes, you heard me. Play is not just for children. It was Einstein who said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
5. Spiritual Vitality – I’ve heard it said about our lives that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Knowing your Creator is the only authentic way to grow in love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Trying to be all that in your strength is the fast track to exhaustion.
Regardless of how shiny any life looks from the outside, we all have work to do. The only success worth having is built from the inside out. Focused Vitality is an inside job.