From Unbalance to Unstoppable: Mastering Life's 5 Critical Pillars
You live an unbalanced life.
Focusing on one area of life to improve on is only the start. Most focus on one or two areas of life to make improvements, but often overlook the others. It's time to find more balance.
What are the five pillars of life?
Health
Wealth
Relationships
Happiness
Spirituality
Each of these represents areas of life we all need in one way or another.
Pro tip: You don't need to work on all of these at once. Focus on the most critical pillar first, then expand from there.
Health
The pillar of health encompasses more than just the physical body; it also affects your mental health. If you're overweight, skin and bones, or lead an unhealthy lifestyle, you're neglecting this pillar. It influences your energy, longevity, and resilience to stress.
Key Components:
Physical Health - Nutrition, exercise, sleep
Mental Health - Managing stress, clear thinking, emotional regulation
Preventative Practices - Regular checkups, mindful living, balanced routines
Health tends to be the easiest pillar to identify the need to work on. Millions of people set this as their New Year's resolution every year. I have another article on the best time to set New Year's resolutions and goals; here's a hint: it's not actually on the New Year itself. You can read it here free on Substack New Season, New You.
I have found this pillar to be a rollercoaster ride.
Having realized I've neglected my health, I'll get healthy, get lazy, and then go back to working on it again. I've been working on ways to stay more consistent with my health, and I've been improving, but it's still a struggle at times.
This should be considered the most essential pillar of life.
If your health suffers, the rest of the pillars can suffer. Poor health limits your ability to enjoy life, work productivity, and build meaningful relationships. A healthy body sharpens your mind for wealth building, fosters deeper engagement in relationships, and enhances physical vitality. It improves your mood along with your capacity for happiness.
Wealth
This pillar of life tends to be the second most common one people build on.
Money isn't everything, but financial stress can deteriorate the other pillars. Wealth is your financial health. It's your income, savings, investments, and your ability to provide not only for yourself, but for your loved ones.
Key Components:
Earning Potential - Career, entrepreneurship, income
Financial Literacy - Budgeting, saving, investing wisely
Freedom & Security - The ability to handle emergencies and live on your terms
Everyone wants to grow their wealth. It helps to provide more options in other areas of life, from travel, health, time with loved ones, and exploring your spirituality.
I think we all can share experiences on this pillar of life. My experience of working up the ranks in a couple of companies has shown me the conveniences of building wealth. I've been able to take trips with my wife, we hadn't had the opportunity to do before. We can also buy healthier food options, which has given me the time to explore entrepreneurship with less stress.
Use spare time to start a small business to help build your wealth.
Building wealth helps you buy the time to explore the other pillars. You'll be able to afford better healthcare and nutrition. Financial freedom creates more time for relationships and personal growth. Reducing financial stress improves overall happiness.
Relationships
The connections you have with your family, friends, romantic partners, colleagues, and your community are all relationships. Many people only view romantic partners as relationships, but it's essential to recognize that everyone you interact with in your life is someone you have a relationship with.
As humans, we are wired to connect with others. They offer emotional support, love, accountability, and shared joy. Strong relationships are a key to a fulfilling life.
Key Components:
Intimacy - Vulnerability, trust, and emotional connection
Support Systems - People who lift you and help you grow
Communication - Healthy conflict resolution and expression of love and respect
I have found myself working on this pillar on and off over the years. Before I met my wife, I was looking for a romantic partner, but I also had strong relationships with my friends and family. Later, I realized I had become so focused on wealth building that I was neglecting my friends and family at times. I needed to find a healthy balance.
Today, I make time for my wife, family, and my friends.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
~ Jim Rohn
One thing to be careful about is who you have a relationship with. If they have bad habits, they can be a bad influence, holding you back. Consider your friendships wisely.
Social support from your relationships improves mental and emotional health. Collaboration and networking lead to greater wealth. Strong relationships provide joy, belonging, and spiritual connection.
Happiness
Happiness, to put it simply, is a sense of contentment, joy, purpose, and peace in your daily life. There are layers to it like an onion. It's not only about the moment; it's the overarching view you have of the world.
Due to our survival instincts, we tend to focus on the negative around us. We worried about survival as hunter-gatherers, facing dangers from predators, the elements, and other people. Today, that wiring makes us think about how others have more than we do, and that seems unfair.
Comparisons like these take the joy out of life.
True happiness comes from meaning, growth, and alignment with your values. It comes from within yourself.
Key Components:
Gratitude - Finding joy in the present moment
Purpose - Finding meaning in your life
Short Term Gratification VS Fulfillment - Understanding the difference between a cheap dopamine hit and deep satisfaction
I have always found gratitude to be the fastest way to find something positive and good in the moment. Finding at least one thing to be grateful for each day significantly increases your happiness.
Did you know that you had a 1 in 400 trillion chance of being born? The fact that you're alive could be considered a miracle and something to find gratitude in.
I like to think about the good in my day, whether it's my wonderful wife or the fact that it's a sunny day; there will always be something that brings gratitude. It's about finding the proper perspective.
This is one of my daily practices.
Finding your purpose will bring meaning to your life. When it's missing, you can feel lost, drifting in the sea of life, unsure what to do. To find your purpose, you need to try different things, explore new ideas, and learn new skills.
I recently wrote an article on a Japanese framework called "Ikigai" that helps you to discover your reason for being. You can read it on Substack for free here: Beneath the Surface: Excavating Your True Calling.
Understanding the distinction between pleasure and fulfillment is extremely important in life.
Short-term gratification is about cheap dopamine hits from social media, mind-numbing games, addictive substances, and so on. These make you feel good in the short term, but they leave you wanting more soon after. It creates a toxic cycle that's hard to escape.
Fulfillment is all about finding deep satisfaction. This works closely with finding your purpose. If you can find true fulfillment in what you do, then you have found a life full of joy.
Happier mindsets lead to healthier decisions. Optimism and gratitude attract opportunities and better relationships. Fulfillment can strengthen your sense of spirituality and inner peace.
Spirituality
Spiritually is the anchor of your soul. The need to find a connection with something greater than yourself. That can be religion, nature, purpose, or the universe.
This is what grounds you in meaning, especially during life's challenges. It offers guidance for your values, compassion, forgiveness, and resilience.
Numerous religions, philosophies, and teachings follow these same ideas.
Key Components:
Inner Reflection - Practices like prayer, meditation, journaling
Belief Systems - Faith, philosophy, moral code
Transcendence - Connection beyond the ego, to others, nature, the divine
Spirituality and its practices reduce stress and improve mental health. There is an element that takes the burden off your shoulders.
The moral compass and the values it brings influence how you build your wealth and treat others. The clarity that comes from spirituality enhances your capacity for deep joy and connection.
These five pillars of life are what we need to lead a balanced life. They all rely on each other in one way or another to keep you and me supported.
Reflect on where you might be lacking, and explore where it takes you. The fulfillment of life awaits.
If you've made it this far, please let me know the current pillar you're working on in the comments. We are all always working on at least one of them. I'm currently working on Spirituality and Wealth.
