You Are Your Family’s Greatest Asset
by Devon Fleming on November 25, 2009 at 11:56AM
As the Household CEO, your well-being is essential to the success of the entire family. You can see this demonstrated in the corporate world with the increasing opportunities for flex-time, job-sharing, and even gym membership reimbursement and other wellness perks for employees. Look at Steve Jobs. He took a high profile leave of absence from Apple in order to focus to his medical well-being. There was a lot of speculation on how his choice would impact the health and future of the company, but in the end it allowed him to take care of himself so he could return the helm as Apple’s chief and visionary. As they instruct on airplanes, ‘put the oxygen mask on yourself first, and then help those around you.” You cannot be of any service to your family, employer or anyone depending on you, if you are not taking care of yourself first.
Managing all the areas of home, life and family is physically, emotionally and spiritually draining. Many women don’t factor their personal health and wellness into the “success equation” and then wonder why they feel exhausted, cranky and even resentful about her roles and responsibilities. It’s a recipe for martyrdom – and no one likes to be around a martyr. It is, generally speaking, the beginning of the end of the health of the family unit.
My own “moment of clarity” came with I was a new stay-at-home mom with three small children. On top of all the driving and planning and activities of my new suburban life, we had undertaken a large home renovation and I had committed to a board position with a local charity. I was overwhelmed, but instead of stopping, breathing and unburdening myself, I just kept going – doing, doing, doing – in an effort to make everyone else satisfied. In the process, my health and self-esteem took a beating. It was at this time that I realized I needed more for “just me.” I needed time to attend to my physical health so I joined an exercise class. I also needed something that gave me a sense of accomplishment I used to find in my corporate job. I decided that working was the best way for me to have a feeling of independence and gain some more self-esteem, so I started my own business. This didn’t mean that my family wasn’t the most important part of my life, but that I needed to carve out my own piece of the pie in my life- something that I could call my own- and this is essentially how my Pink Book started.
I am asked all the time to help women discover the ‘thing’ in their life that will allow them to increase their self-worth and self-esteem, or to help them reinvent themselves as they go through the different stages of their lives. It occurred to me, based on my own experience, that a lot of women either don’t know what they love to do, or are too afraid to fail in pursuit of making their long held dream a reality. What I’ve discovered is that it’s the pursuit of the goal that brings satisfaction, self-discovery and joy. Sure, reaching the goal is great, but when we feel good we create the space to make the next plan or goal. And on and on. When we are finding time to do these things, when we are taking care of ourselves, we are healthier and setting a powerful example to our children.
Are you good at organizing or have a background in editing or accounting? Why not consider formalizing your skills as a small business? Have you always wanted to paint or learn another language? Personal development and self-discovery shouldn’t stop once we have children and are in our ‘mid-life’. For this Household CEO, it involves helping other women. When I look at my work as a service commitment first and foremost, and I am genuinely helping someone else, I feel empowered! What would empower you?
I encourage other Household CEOs to take the month of August to challenge yourselves and find out what it inspires you, what makes you feel energized or excited. Take that idea and find a way to follow that energy, even it’s just a little bit. (Sure, you might want to take a master’s level photography class, but if that’s too much, wouldn’t it feel great to dedicate one day this month for a day-long, Mom-only photography shoot in some fun or spiritual place?) Start with small steps, celebrate your accomplishments and dream big!
Whatever path to self-reinvention or self-rediscovery you pursue, you’ll bound to reap the rewards of increased personal satisfaction and well being – how’s that for a success equation?
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.”
You Are Your Family’s Greatest Asset
By Devon Fleming, Posted 25/25/09 11:56 AM
As the Household CEO, your well-being is essential to the success of the entire family. You can see this demonstrated in the corporate world with the increasing opportunities for flex-time, job-sharing, and even gym membership reimbursement and other wellness perks for employees. Look at Steve Jobs. He took a high profile leave of absence from Apple in order to focus to his medical well-being. There was a lot of speculation on how his choice would impact the health and future of the company, but in the end it allowed him to take care of himself so he could return the helm as Apple’s chief and visionary. As they instruct on airplanes, ‘put the oxygen mask on yourself first, and then help those around you.” You cannot be of any service to your family, employer or anyone depending on you, if you are not taking care of yourself first.
Managing all the areas of home, life and family is physically, emotionally and spiritually draining. Many women don’t factor their personal health and wellness into the “success equation” and then wonder why they feel exhausted, cranky and even resentful about her roles and responsibilities. It’s a recipe for martyrdom – and no one likes to be around a martyr. It is, generally speaking, the beginning of the end of the health of the family unit.
My own “moment of clarity” came with I was a new stay-at-home mom with three small children. On top of all the driving and planning and activities of my new suburban life, we had undertaken a large home renovation and I had committed to a board position with a local charity. I was overwhelmed, but instead of stopping, breathing and unburdening myself, I just kept going – doing, doing, doing – in an effort to make everyone else satisfied. In the process, my health and self-esteem took a beating. It was at this time that I realized I needed more for “just me.” I needed time to attend to my physical health so I joined an exercise class. I also needed something that gave me a sense of accomplishment I used to find in my corporate job. I decided that working was the best way for me to have a feeling of independence and gain some more self-esteem, so I started my own business. This didn’t mean that my family wasn’t the most important part of my life, but that I needed to carve out my own piece of the pie in my life- something that I could call my own- and this is essentially how my Pink Book started.
I am asked all the time to help women discover the ‘thing’ in their life that will allow them to increase their self-worth and self-esteem, or to help them reinvent themselves as they go through the different stages of their lives. It occurred to me, based on my own experience, that a lot of women either don’t know what they love to do, or are too afraid to fail in pursuit of making their long held dream a reality. What I’ve discovered is that it’s the pursuit of the goal that brings satisfaction, self-discovery and joy. Sure, reaching the goal is great, but when we feel good we create the space to make the next plan or goal. And on and on. When we are finding time to do these things, when we are taking care of ourselves, we are healthier and setting a powerful example to our children.
Are you good at organizing or have a background in editing or accounting? Why not consider formalizing your skills as a small business? Have you always wanted to paint or learn another language? Personal development and self-discovery shouldn’t stop once we have children and are in our ‘mid-life’. For this Household CEO, it involves helping other women. When I look at my work as a service commitment first and foremost, and I am genuinely helping someone else, I feel empowered! What would empower you?
I encourage other Household CEOs to take the month of August to challenge yourselves and find out what it inspires you, what makes you feel energized or excited. Take that idea and find a way to follow that energy, even it’s just a little bit. (Sure, you might want to take a master’s level photography class, but if that’s too much, wouldn’t it feel great to dedicate one day this month for a day-long, Mom-only photography shoot in some fun or spiritual place?) Start with small steps, celebrate your accomplishments and dream big!
Whatever path to self-reinvention or self-rediscovery you pursue, you’ll bound to reap the rewards of increased personal satisfaction and well being – how’s that for a success equation?
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle Expert. She writes books, articles, blogs, and other online content. She provides ‘Fairfield County Living Tips’ on four local radio stations and appears on area TV providing lifestyle segments and “solutions for the modern woman.”
