The Four Layers of Life

    By now, everyone knows that the meaning of life is "to love and be loved", and the goal of life is "happiness". But very few people know how to achieve those proverbs. No matter the character traits or exterior personality that someone shows, every person walking this earth wishes to find happiness and love. But actually taking steps to secure that inner peace is hard. Time is limited, responsibilities are boundless, patience is thin, and we're our own harshest judge. But there are tangible ways to accomplish the balance needed to achieve a happy and productive life. To find this balance, today I'm going to look at the four most important layers of living: Work, Art, Social Time, and Personal Time. Once you find a way to evenly incorporate these four facets, you'll find your spirit beaming with pride, accomplishment, and rest.

1. Work

    This one is the least fun of the bunch. The one that is necessary to live an adult life. The one that pays the bills, keeps food on the table, and keeps the creditors off of your back. Most of us aren't able to make money with the things that we truly love/create, so we have to earn our wages through a 9-5 job. If you love what you do, or can make a living selling your art, then you likely already have found a great deal of peace and pride in your soul. If you haven't, you're likely working insane amounts of overtime trying to make a buck. I'd never advise you not to work, in either case. Everyone needs to feel useful, and needs a job to pad out the hours and further their skill sets. The key is not to work so hard that you don't have any time or energy to spend the money you make on the things/people you love. Sometimes it's necessary to work a little extra, but most times, a paranoid workaholic syndrome makes us believe we have to grind 24/7. Sometimes it's okay to slow down and stop rushing. To spend time in the park with your child, or have a romantic date with your significant other, or even lay around and binge in a lazy Netflix marathon. Over-working can be just as dangerous as under-working, and time should not be wasted. When life is at its twilight, you'll remember the times you spent outside the office walls, not the 60 hour work-weeks. Turning down some overtime or not answering your boss' call on an off-day can be better than missing a chance to enjoy yourself.

2. Art

    Some jobs give us the chance to make an impact and touch people's lives, but most don't. One of the things that truly enriches us and makes us happy is knowing that our imprint is being made on the world. To truly feel like we've contributed and added to our personal legacy which lives on after us. One of the best ways to live a life like that is by creating art. Our work are the things we have to do...our art are the things we want to do. The mind must always be kept strong, and we must avoid the numbness of complacency. We must always be pushed and challenged to evolve, and art leads to the best hobbies. Everyone has some form of creativity...whether it be writing, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, crafting, etc. Pursuing your God-given gifts not only naturally makes you happier, but also creates something that can never be taken away. Force yourself to spend even a few hours a week on one of those gifts. It channels your stress into something you enjoy, and furthers your esteem and self-worth.

3. Social Time

    So after a 40+ hour work week and several hours working on your art, you must be exhausted. At this point it's easy to just want to curl up in a comfy blanket and pass out for eternity. But something inside you still feels empty, missing, and lonely. That's because as bonded as you are to your career and your crafts, there's a stronger bond calling...your friends. Friends are there through years and years of triumphs and trials, to celebrate the good and mourn the bad alongside you. It's important that they don't get lost in the shuffle. Friends (and Family, as they are incorporated in this category too) are an extension of us. They help make us who we are, they extend our comfort, and they give us the gift of memories, fun, and laughter. Send them the occasional text...it takes less than 30 seconds. Remind them you love and are thinking of them. It'll make both of your days brighter and doesn't take much effort. Sacrifice a few hours of sleep to watch a movie with them on the couch over a pizza. Highlight your next off-day on the calendar to make plans with them. Even if it's just a brief, hour-long coffee chat, it'll get you energized and satisfied as you head to your next task. Being a friend/family can be hard work, but the love you give and receive will make you so much happier as the years fly by.

4. Personal Time

    So you're finally sitting in your warm home, going over your exhausting day in the quiet. You've worked a long day, progressed your art, and saw a friend or two. Now take the time to marinate in it. Just as important as the other three, it's integral to your health and well-being to rest. Whether it's watching a movie, scrolling on Facebook, reading, praying, or sleeping, take that down time that centers you at the end of the day. Enjoy the quiet, now that you've worked for it. Take the time to think about what you need to mull over, take a long bath, and reinvigorate your body so you can do it all over again tomorrow. If you need to miss out on one of the above three for this one sometimes, that's okay. Don't beat yourself up over it. You've earned it.

    So those are the four aspects of life that need the most time and focus. The key to your personal production and happiness of course, relies on your incorporation and balance of these aspects. Obviously I can't tell you when and how to choose each one, as different schedules work best for each individual person. But once you have a healthy flow of these, you'll find your life is at it's peak in usefulness, confidence, and happiness. We all want that, and we can all achieve that. Cheers, to you finding your perfect balance in the four layers of life. Love yourself, and love each other, my valued readers.

-Jason