The Four “F-Words” Of Life
by Steven Kay
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances
On the “Life Business and Money” radio show here on CNN 650 Radio News, we discuss varying topics of what it really takes to have true success. There are many different factors to success that are important, so I would like to break it down into the simplest of terms, what I call The Four “F-Words” Of Life.
When we think of all of the things that are important, it’s easy for us to list our priorities as to what takes the highest precedence. If asked most of us would probably say that it breaks down to Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances; and we would probably prioritize them in that order. Yet when we look at how we live our lives, do we really always follow these standards?
When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Are you thankful for another day of the gift that is life, or do you start to think of all of the things you have to do that day at work or with your business? If you are a person of religious belief do you start off your day with praise and a prayer, or do you get up and go wash your face and brush your teeth? Do you give yourself a pep talk or positive affirmation and then good morning wishes to your family, or do you immediately take that morning jog and a shower (or do you even exercise and practice a healthy diet at all)?
I believe that every little thing we do reflects upon what is truly important in our hearts. We all claim certain values are at the top of our list but our actions may speak otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we do this on purpose. I just think we get ourselves into daily habits, and just like certain habits can take us away from our goals they can also take us away from our beliefs. Even more so, I know as we get further away from our core beliefs and values it makes it harder for us to accomplish our goals and we what want out of life.
Faith – When I say this most will first presume that I am talking about religious belief, and if you know me then you know that for me this is true. Whatever religion you are your faith in God should take the highest priority in your life. Many of us say we put this one first, but probably not in daily practice. Lord knows I have had many days where this is the case. Make sure to give God the praise He deserves for making the life you have now possible as well as the things to come that He has in store for you. Beyond religious faith, this also takes many forms. This can be confidence in yourself and your ability to achieve what you set out to do, and courage to act on your convictions and take steps towards your goals. Make sure you take time to reaffirm your faith, both in your God and in yourself, no matter what challenges you may have to face that day.
Family – This one seems pretty easy, but I think it is much tougher for all of us than we realize. How many times have you put off something for your family or missed precious moments with those that you love because you “had to work”? For me, I tend to believe that the work I do is to provide for my family. This of course is true in fact but tends to equalize the importance of each value, and that is where the fault lays because if they become equal in our mind than the one applying more pressure will take precedence. Financial and career pressures are easy to identify because they are more direct, but family pressures are subtle and not always as obvious. It is our nature to deal with the issues we can identify and believe we can solve, and sometimes this is where we have a breakdown in the strength of our family because we don’t identify the problems immediately. If we make sure to keep our family at the forefront of our hearts and give them the attention that they need, and if we make sure to always give our family greater attention than we do our businesses or jobs, then our family will always remain strong and be there to support us in our efforts.
Fitness – Not to be so cliché, but your body is your temple. Your health affects your attitude and your productivity directly. If you take care of yourself by eating properly and exercising regularly, you will find that you have more energy throughout the day and will not be worn out so easily, and you will find that you have a clearer mind that allows you to be more creative in solving the challenges you face. Find an exercise program that helps you stay disciplined while is convenient to your personal and work schedules. Start a healthy activity that you enjoy and do it regularly (for example, I still play ice hockey every week). If you can find something that your family can participate in, it can help making the commitment easier and also become a part of keeping family time a top priority. Make sure to keep yourself fit, body mind and spirit.
Finances – If our other priorities are in order, this one seems to fall into place more easily. Not that you don’t have to work at it, but true success comes when your actions align with your core beliefs. Think about that, every time you make a decision that goes against one of your core values, you automatically damage your chances of success. If you believe that family comes above career, but then you do something that puts your career first, you mind will subconsciously start working against you because deep inside it will be screaming out at you “this is wrong!” (I am sure we have all heard that little voice inside ourselves). The more you push forward, the more you are fighting against yourself. If you are not honoring your faith, your family, or yourself in what you are doing then just find another way that does. You can certainly find a variety of ways to earn a living, so never let money contradict your values or take priority over what is truly important in life.
I believe that these four pillars are the basis of establishing a strong ethical standard of how we set our course in life. Each of us have our own beliefs and must prioritize them on what we think is morally right. There are lots of ways to make money and achieve success, do so in a way that satisfies your soul and you will always have happiness and fulfillment.
About Steven Kay: Steven Kay is an up-and-coming talk show host and producer. The “Life Business and Money” talk radio program is continually growing in popularity among business owners, executives, and sales professionals. It airs on CNN 650AM Radio News in Houston, TX and is available online at www.StevenKayLive.com. Steven Kay Media is an independent advertising agency that specializes in talk radio advertising sales and promotions, as well as producing and hosting talk shows, which has produced several radio programs as well as developing several new projects soon to hit the air waves. You may contact Steven directly at 713-278-9109 or info@StevenKay.biz, or visit www.StevenKay.biz.
