Level Up Your Life!

What ‘LEVEL’ of Life Are You Living At?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the areas of my own life in terms of ‘levels’ and where some may be lacking. Interestingly, if you google ‘levels of life’, Cambridge Dictionary provides a spectacular synonym for this phrase - ‘Quality of Life’, which is the “level of satisfaction - enjoyment, comfort, and health in someone’s life”. 

Let’s say for simplicity, there are 3 levels of life (and I’m going to illustrate this in terms of a ladder). The ’ladder’ can then be used as an assessment tool for every area of your life: health, family, close relationships, spiritual, financial, and purpose (dream or professional life). As you are reading, assess which level of life you are dwelling in.

Level 1 - (the lowest level; bottom rung of the ‘ladder’) - Someone sitting in level 1 might describe themselves as “stuck”. In this stage, we recognize that we are the furthest from our “best” or true potential, and yet for some reason, we can’t seem to find the motivation or tools to improve it, so that we can begin living and breathing in a healthier way. An example of being in level 1 in the area of finances might be someone who is living pay cheque to pay cheque. You are unhappy with your work; you often feel physically worn down, with no time to take breaks, and yet you don’t know how to get off the mouse wheel without your monthly bills falling through. The great thing about lacking better in our lives (or living in level 1) is, as humans we are highly motivated by fear and discomfort, and will work hard to get out of this level. ...which for most of us means, there’s nowhere to go but UP!

Level 2 - (the satisfactory level; middle rung) - This is where I believe many, MANY of us sit. Life is good; it’s not great, but it’s comfortable! And comfortable means we are less motivated to move into the amazing 3rd level of challenges, where we could experience true fulfilment and purpose! A great example of level 2 is personal relationships. I have witnessed time and time again people who are in a relationship because it is comfortable… like a couch - soft and familiar, but by no means improving you as a person. More likely, it is worsening your health, desires, and motivation to take on a new challenge you’ve been dabbling with in your mind. For many of us, fear may be the biggest drawback to moving out of this level into something greater, as we wonder, “If I take a step of faith and leave this ‘comfort’ behind, will I lose everything I had (familiarity, security), and be left with nothing?” And the honest answer is maybe… BUT, likely only for a period of time. If you are motivated and determined enough to make a difficult decision that has momentary discomfort for long-term gains, such as ceasing a stale relationship, than you certainly are the type of individual who will find someone as motivated as yourself to conquer life with, again.

Level 3 - (the highest level; top rung) AKA living life to the fullest! - This is the level we all imagine ourselves living in, but few of us will make the difficult choice and/or sacrifices, followed by the additional steps required to actually experience true fulfilment and joy in our lives. Level 3 is the Lotto 6-49 of levels. As I believe a healthy lifestyle is so key to living a truly full and happy life, I’m going to use it for my next example. A healthy lifestyle isn’t just going to the gym when it works into your schedule, because Janice is free on Wednesday nights to join you for a cycling class; going for a run on weekends because you now have the time, or making healthy meals a couple nights of the week, but the remaining nights of the week you stay out late with colleagues drinking, followed by 5 hours sleep, and then giving half your efforts to your patients/clients the next day at work. NO. When we are experiencing life to the fullest, we are also working the hardest to stay in this level. A person in level 3 is dedicated, determined, has structure, and they are consistently and repetitiously doing the same ‘healthy’ things over and over like clockwork to maintain the results. For example: to trim and maintain one’s waistline to live a disease-FREE, medication-FREE life requires one to consume healthy meals 5-6x/week with the occasional celebratory dinner out, in conjunction with 30 minutes of exercise 5-6/week, followed by a rest day, and then topped off with a standard 8-9 hours of sleep (yes, 9 hours!) each night. This is the highest level, as it is the most difficult to achieve, and then maintain! And I believe everyone is capable of attaining this level in most, if not all domains of their lives. Thinking in ‘levels’ is how I have been evaluating areas of my own life, satisfaction, and short-comings… and it’s quite eye-opening!

Bonus Level 4 - (living exceptionally beyond the norm)! - Initially, I hesitated on creating a fourth level, as the reality is even elite athletes, who appear super-human, have many faulty areas of their lives outside the pedantic training regimens. When I discovered American Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, ate “pretty much whatever [he] felt like eating”, and in the same interview stated, “I just sort of cram whatever I can into my body”, which included “french toast, grits, white toast smothered with mayonnaise, pasta, pizzas and energy drinks.”, etc., I was to say the least, shocked! (Note to the reader: Michael Phelps’ metabolism is evidently much faster than the average male. This diet in an average male, with a standard work-out routine, would normally result in weight gain). This reminded me that even Olympians can learn a thing or two in achieving their ultimate potential in ALL areas of their life, rather than ace-ing just one. Bottom line, we all have the choice of giving 100 + 10% in each area of our life!

So, what ‘level of life’ would you say you are living in? What simple steps could you take today to move into a (higher) level - such as a 2, or 3? …or 4?!

Here are some practical tips to start living higher:

• If you aren’t sure where you’re at, take a few minutes and draw out your own ladder. Underneath each level, jot down where you believe you are in that area of your life. And be honest with yourself.

• As a starting point, you can address these core areas, which I see as highly important: health, family, close relationships, spiritual, financial, and purpose (dream or professional life.

• Find someone who has mastered each of these areas, and then share with them how you would like to improve in a particular realm of your life. Whether it be to gain advice on how to ‘level up’ in that domain, or find encouragement - telling someone who has mastered the area in which you have a specific goal makes you accountable to them to actually follow through, and more likely to succeed. They’ve been where you are, and know EXACTLY what is required to move up!

• And finally, like anything in life, focus on one area of change at a time. It may be something as simple as ‘ceasing eating at the same time every night’ (perhaps finishing all meals/snacks by 7pm, and then going to bed at 9pm every night) to master healthier, quality, sleep patterns.
  

Remember - just as I am making these suggestions to you, I am also trying to move into higher levels of living in my own life, to experience ultimate fulfilment and purpose. 

In happiness and true health,

Dr. Kristyn Bell