The 4 Secrets to Reach Complete Balance and Happiness

Imagine achieving complete balance and happiness in your life. It may seem like an impossible feat, but in fact, you only need to do four things. This is according to Darren Hardy, bestselling author and entrepreneurship guru, and Josh Ellis, editor of Success magazine.

Explore each of the four pillars below to learn how you can strengthen your own outlook towards achieving both balance and happiness.

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1. Health

The cornerstones of leading a healthy lifestyle are pretty straightforward, and although we all know what we need to do — eat right, exercise, sleep eight hours a day and drink plenty of water — we don’t always do them.

It’s important to remember that health is both physical and mental, but unfortunately, the mental health aspect tends to get neglected in the veterinary profession. Make time to improve your mental health by considering some of these tips:

• Take deep breaths when you feel stressed out.
• Meditate daily, even if it’s for only five minutes. Meditation can give you clarity and help begin or end your day on a positive note.
• Set big goals. It costs nothing to dream.
• Don’t internalize your emotions. Talk about them regularly with a friend, a trusted colleague or a mental health professional.
• Stimulate your brain regularly by learning something new. This can be as simple as reading a book or listening to a podcast.

2. Purpose

What drives you? What is your purpose? What legacy or impact will you leave behind? Studies suggest that the happiest people have a strong sense of purpose.

Develop your own sense of purpose by making sure your various commitments are balanced. In other words, prioritize your time to focus largely on the people and things you care most about. When life becomes chaotic, ask yourself what's most important to you. If you are not feeling fulfilled, make changes to refocus on your main purpose.

3. Personal Growth

Complacency and unhappiness go hand in hand. Personal growth and development are integral components in the quest for happiness.

To grow, you need a starting point. There are online quizzes and personal growth books that can help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Your goal should be to improve upon both, which may require stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new.

Identify something you'd like to change or accomplish, and develop a 12-month action plan to achieve that goal. If you become overwhelmed, take a step back and complete a smaller task that is in line with your long-term goal. There are no boundaries; there is always room for improvement.

4. Happiness

Being happy is a choice. Continuously working on yourself will not help if you’re only focusing on the negative. Let go of the interactions that constantly undermine your happiness and instead encourage positive relationships in your life.

Actively seek the positive: learn new things, make time for a hobby, be grateful for the important people and moments in your life, say thank you — often. If you struggle when searching for the silver lining, maintain a gratitude journal. Every night, write down at least one thing you were thankful for that day.

Disconnect from technology. Your mind will thank you if you go without your electronic devices for a few hours before bed. Use that time to connect with people, brainstorm, plan, recharge, learn and relax.

Focus on these four items — health, purpose, personal growth and happiness — each and every day and your outlook on life will improve dramatically.

AJ Debiasse, a technician in Stroudsburg, PA, contributed to this article.

Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and serial entrepreneur. His traveling surgery practice takes him all over Eastern Pennsylvania and Western New Jersey. You can visit his websites at www.DrPhilZeltzman.com and www.VeterinariansInParadise.com.