Executive Well Being:

Your Oxygen Mask First

By Corey Rubin

Health and well-being. It’s no longer about squeezing in a quick jog or two sets of biceps before heading into your work day. In fact, for a large majority of those sitting in the upper stratum, yesterday’s woo woo take on total well-being is today’s Holy Grail . Although rising to the top at work comes with the risk of taking its toll on your life, that once esoteric idea of wellness has gained ground. Well-being is a valid and worthy goal.
When it comes to overall healthy living, do you explore, or ignore? If the daily stress and strain is taking its toll or something’s not working at work, let’s take a look at what’s missing from your healthy equation.
So what is well-being anyway? I like to define it as happiness, good health, balance, quality of life, fitness, and a general state of being that is underwritten by a deep sense of serenity, fulfillment, and content. Go ahead and read that list again.

Well-being isn’t just about stair steppers and yoga classes, passing up the fries for fruit, meditation, and getting our eight hours. It’s about all of those things. Well-being is about finding that comprehensive balance in our minds, in our hearts, in our health, in our work, in our relationships in everything we are doing, saying, and being--that will lead us to that ultimate sense of peace and satisfaction.
"Great," you say. "I want some of that!"

Okay, so what’s your commitment to getting it? What are you willing to take on? What are you willing to let go? Of those you surround yourself with, who’s gonna be in, and who’s gonna be out? And, what do you really want to make out of this lifetime?

We've heard the words on countless flights around the world: “In the unlikely event of a sudden loss in cabin pressure....” If you are traveling with someone who needs assistance with their mask, the rule is to secure your own mask before assisting with theirs. Well-being is no different. There is not one of us that is traveling in this world alone. We have spouses and kids, friends and family, co-workers, and others alongside us. When it comes to well-being, the first step is to take responsibility for ourselves. After all, none of our fellow passengers will get the best out of us if we are running on empty.

If you're ready to put your mask on and breathe in some of that well-being oxygen, here are a few places to look at in life:

Physical: We all know that our bodies function best with a good diet, nutrition, and healthy exercise. If those are not handled, get on it. Hire a trainer or personal chef. Buddy up for the gym or join a local sports league. Do something that holds you more than accountable to just yourself. Get the basics under control, then start to think about the other aspects of physical well-being. Sleep--are you operating on two or ten? Medical--when was your last physical exam? Appearance--how you look on the outside affects how you feel on the inside. And, dare I say the word, dentist?

Intellectual: What do you do to exercise that lump of gray in your head? Our minds need as much attention as our abs. When was the last time you picked up a book that didn’t hold flow charts, survey results, and graphs? How about a cultural injection into your schedule--art, music, theater? What happened to the community course you thought about taking, simply because you were interested in the science of oenology (wine making)?

Emotional: Try a 1-10 scale of the following: love, joy, acceptance, awe, surprise, amusement, optimism... and guilt, anger, sadness, disappointment, fear, envy, remorse. Every one of them is valid, but which ones run your life? This is also where I throw in the once-weird practice of meditation.
You might be surprised to know how many of my clients hide meditation pillows in their office closet between their spare dress shirt and golf clubs.

Spiritual: We need not hold any specific religious belief to find a sense of spirituality. We each have the opportunity for a personal journey towards finding what is important in life and discovering how we fit into that picture. Spirituality doesn’t have to come in the shape of a steeple. It can also be found in the face of another human being. Simply being with others, finding common values, letting go of the limit that you normally put on interconnection with others, and authentic connection with yourself can open up paths to the world around you that have long since been tangled with weeds.

Are you satisfied with the status quo? As daunting as it may seem to create a life of well-being, you don’t have to be a self-help guru to attain peace and wellness. A balanced life is possible for each of us, even as we reach for that next rung of the ladder. So as you ascend, take even a few new well-being habits along with you, and the climb will be that much more satisfying.

Corey Rubin is an ACC Certified Life and Executive Coach, yoga instructor, and personal trainer. She is an affiliate of Accomplishment Coaching, a credentialed member of the International Coach Federation, and holds several certifications from The American Council on Exercise. She is available for private coaching, group seminars, workplace Well-Being Training and Team Building, and speaking engagements. Contact information: corey@sparkswithin.com or 805.558.5965