8 elements for purposeful drive

The 8 Elements for Purposeful Drive are simple enough for anyone to use. It is an effective tool due to its ability to clarify thoughts and personal strategies.

As the year draws to a close, it is often the time for reflecting and planning.

On that note, reflecting and planning should be an ongoing process and not be limited to one time in the year, so whether you decide to use this tool now, later or every month, that is really up to you.

How it works

The 8 Elements for Purposeful Drive are described below. Consider each one and rate your current position in relation to where you are. A score of 0 would indicate you have not started or perhaps neglected an element and a score of 10 would indicate that you have achieved all your goals in that area so far.

1. Spiritual

This is not related to religion but rather questions how much joy you have in your life. For some, that means spending time in nature, being artistic or reading a book. For others, it could be the time in prayer and meditation or taking a yoga class.

This is something you do to feed your soul.

2. Intellectual

When the mind stops learning and problem solving, it is at risk of premature ageing and mental atrophy. However, too much intellectual stimulation can be exhausting and draining and may take away from other areas of life. It is up to you to determine what is too much and what is not enough. During periods of exams or studies this element spikes and can often become our only focus. In cases like this, consider element 8.

3. Physical

The same applies to the physical aspect. This includes exercise and movement, but more importantly, strength, endurance and flexibility. Again, too much and you’ll deplete yourself, not enough and you take away from the other elements due to lack of energy and vitality.

4. Family/Relationships

Not all of us are social butterflies but our connection with people is important to our wellbeing. Ask yourself, “Am I making time for the people I love?”

Something to consider here is the difference between seeing people out of obligation and investing the time because you want to nurture the relationship. Do not do something if it’s not serving you or if there’s peer pressure.

5. Business/Career

This constitutes your work goals and aspirations. It also allows you to consider whether you’re giving your best, have the right attitude towards your job and if you are remaining marketable.

6. Financial

The key to financial wellbeing is education. The better informed you are the better your money decisions will be. There are many excellent resources to up your financial savvy, help you get out of debt, or guide you in investment decisions. ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ by Robert Kiyosaki, is an essential read for everyone at any age. A local book to consider is ‘Use Some Common Cents to Build Financial Independence’ written by Chris Sloane, a tax consultant and specialist based in Bryanston. This book was reviewed by Bruce Witfield’s Money Show on 702 in April this year.

7. Social Investment

This is the element that connects us to our environment and community and asks, “What am I doing to give back?”.

This can include giving of our time, giving of our money through donation, supporting a cause, helping a neighbour or planting a tree.

Helping others through empathy and love has proven to reduce depression and anxiety.

8. Rest/Restoration

I have purposefully left this for last as it is the most important element. We cannot give from an empty cup and yet many of us are. Performance at work is directly related to wellbeing. If we are rested we are in a far better position to make smart decisions and to think clearly. Taking time out is vital and often overlooked or outright dismissed. What’s important to remember is that rest and restoration are all about your preference. If you get it from TV games, a night out, alone time, the beach, the bush, a book, a glass of wine or a dance class, who’s to tell you you’re wrong.

Discover for yourself what you need for self-replenishment, and then permit yourself to do it.

The score

Once you have established your baseline score for each element, you can make changes where necessary by asking 4 questions about any or all of the elements:

“What do I need to…”

1. Do more of
2. Do less of
3. Start doing
4. Stop doing

By writing down your results and plans, you’ll have a far higher success rate. There is more efficient stimulation to the brain by seeing something on paper than keeping it in your thoughts. Thoughts, much like data, can easily become corrupted, erased or lost.

Last points

Not all of the elements may be a priority in your life right now, but they all form an integral part of it. The key to a healthy, balanced life is to become consciously aware of all the elements and how they play out in your decision making, planning and doing and ultimately, a purposeful drive.

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