Seven Fitness Areas – Your Resource for Above-the-Line Living
What is above-the-line living, and why should you care?
I have categorized what is important for a balanced life into 7 different areas. They are:
The order is by design. You can work hard and long doing all the right things, but if you don’t successfully modulate your emotions, you can lose it all in a fraction of the time it takes to build it. Emotions can provide the fuel for your passion and purpose, or they can be the catalyst that causes you let go. The word ‘fitness’ was chosen because it suggests something that takes a little extra effort; while some of the articles will relate to ‘physical fitness’, generally it is about taking care of all areas so our life is better than it would be if left alone. Just as a lawn needs tending to keep it weed free, we need attention to be the best version of ourselves.
What’s up with “Above The Line?” Most of the time, we have a few gaps in our lives. Gaps are not bad unless we let them get that way. A gap is the space between where we are and where we want to be. For example:
Maybe we have trouble bending over, or we are a little off because of anxiety.
Another day, it may be that we have not hit our income target for the month, or we have not figured out what gift to get for a loved one.
As you have probably surmised, the first example describes below the line. Something happened. We are not where we should be – like a thermostat - we want to take action to get back to what we consider ideal. In the second example, our pursuit is additive – a goal to improve our life or the life of someone else.
These are simple examples – it can go on forever. It may not be obvious though. There are differences in how we go about closing these gaps. The steps may be similar but mindset, conditioning, beliefs, and energy levels can all have an impact. They may even present obstacles – for example, a limiting belief may stop you from making progress on a goal that is above the line because – well, that is what limiting beliefs do.
Why is this important?
For decades, I have been exploring, researching, testing, and studying recipes to access a human’s untapped potential. As long ago as the mid 1800’s, we knew from people like William James that we could change our lives with our thoughts. However, it was never clear exactly how. Along the way, there has been no shortage of ideas, but too often, the results were hit or miss.
Then, about three decades ago, Neuroscientists began making significant progress. The combination of results they couldn’t ignore and the access to measuring instruments to research what is going on with our neurobiology caused years and years of staggering advances in not only what is possible but also the steps to take.
What you will find in this project is:
Filtering to focus on proven explanations and steps to achieve desired outcomes
Alignment with neuroscientist's and neurobiologist's peer-reviewed findings
Connecting of dots between neurobiology/neuroscience and long standing success principles
Updates as new information is uncovered (new papers on Neuroscience related topics are growing exponentially)
Still Not Convinced?
Right! Why should anyone care? After all, most people are getting along fine and the amount of work to get to the next level is simply not worth it – especially given the track record of all the life hacks and quick fixes.
Great point – and that is why this project is different. There are no quick fixes. Everyone is different. We have to do the work. It’s about understanding and following applying – not adopting hacks. However, the main reason I think people should care about living above the line is straightforward.
Regardless of where a person is in their life, at some level, they want to be happy. People spend gobs of money, travel to distant places, jump from relationship to relationship, consume mood-enhancing products, binge on you name it, and more, seeking that elusive state of happiness.
Through this project and a focus on above-the-line living, we will continuously fine-tune the process to getting to the place where you are living a self-actualized life.
Already self-actualizing? Great, we will help you expand. Don’t care about Self-Actualizing? Well, I hope we can show you the benefits. As a refresher, the included Maslow Hierarchy Triangle explains my reference to “Self-Actualization.”
When you are living at the Self Actualization level, you will find that you are also closer to perpetual happiness than at any other level. So let’s get to work…or should I say PLAY!!
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