The 4 Components of Life-Part 4

(That no one really told you about)

Welcome again, new Substack subscribers!!

Recapping:

Over the last three weeks, I have been writing a series on how I believe all of life has Four Basic Components. No matter what you are doing, no matter what situation you are in, or who you are with, these four are in play:

1) TIME 2) TASKS 3) RELATIONSHIPS 4) RESOURCES

And why does this matter, I have asked?

It matters because some of the craziness in life we experience is due to NOT having these 4 in balance. We don’t have them in balance, or we are around people who don’t have them in balance, either. If we continue in life oblivious to this, and never reflect on it, we may well be running in multiple directions, never doing what we were “called” to do. We wind up angry and exhausted. We get frustrated with others, and then we might even escape into unhealthy behaviors to cope. This further “unbalances” us!

Balancing these 4 are key to having a life that feels less crazy!

Last week, I wrote on the 3rd Component: Relationships. We all have them. We may not like them all–but we all have them. I went on to say that we live in communities of connection. Such connections create a community of some fashion. It may be by blood, or a shared environment, like your neighborhood, job, or place of worship. I also pointed out why we must seek Alignment in our relationships, as bringing Alignment into our relationships is critical for a better, redeemed, humanity. All of our interactions with others matter, from your spouse, to the clerk at the store.

Now for the finale: Resources.

All Resources have limits.

We all know this–we may be in denial about it sometimes, but it is true. We probably don’t have as many of some resources as we would like, or need, but all of us have some measure of resources. We have air to breathe, and hopefully some access to water, food, shelter, and clothes, and means to acquire these things. I know some will point out that Time is a resource too, and I do not disagree. I simply feel that Time is it’s own thing in my Life Components, and hence why it is broken out separately.

We humans fight over resources! Certainly much war is based on resource needs and wants. Would the U.S. have fought so much in the Middle East were it not for the “black gold” in the sands over there? I know our politicians give more noble reasons, but I personally feel countries want/need resources from other countries, and this defines much of international relationships. But the purpose of this blog is not to dive into political issues.

How about you? You work somewhere to provide a resource you need: money. Yes, hopefully your job is something you enjoy, or are skilled at, or it may just be a means to pay the bills. For example, I work as an accountant. (No, I can not do your taxes, and I get asked that a lot.) I have skill with it, generally like doing it, and like the people I work with. I am paid well to do it. But, writing is something I love far more. Watching those words spill out on to the page (or screen), and somebody getting helped, or gaining insight, or encouraged by my little “wordsmithing”, now that is something special.

In my writing, I hope to become a different kind of resource–one of helpfulness, clarity about issues, and tools for practicing that will change your life. This is a “side-gig”, and as of right now, I do not charge for it. I am not ready to do that–and I know many do charge for access to their material. I’m just not ready for that yet. God will tell me when to update my “business model”.

We both use resources and are a resource to others.

If you are a parent, you are a huge resource, especially to a baby! Young children need all sorts of assistance with everything. Later, teenagers need guidance, direction, and help with “adulting”, like starting a job, and handling their money, etc.

What kind of resource do you want to be?

In the Biblical book of James in the Christian Scriptures, he says:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  (James 2:14-17, ESV)

James is speaking here of the practical application of Faith, but the point is also being made to use our resources for good. I’m sure many people reading this do indeed give to charities, or their church, or do some good in their community. But what else can we do? What else should we do? Do we have eyes to see needs around us, or are we busy getting to our next appointment, or checking our phones? I say this as someone who is an on-the-go New Yorker, with things planned months in advance, and very much “on my phone”. I get it. I too, have to stop and ask where I am “too busy” to be a resource. Do I let my day get too “jammed” to help others?

A tell-tale sign I am not relating rightly to the Resources Component

is my level of irritation if someone needs help.

Yes, we all need boundaries, and I have written right here in this blog about saying “no”. But do we leave room for any “yes’s”? Ouch-that actually hurts to write that–as I stink at it! If you are new to my writings, you will see I do ‘How do I practice?’ pieces to show that I am NOT some guru that has this stuff figured out. I am very much flawed, selfish, and confused, like so many of us. But, I know I can go to God, to prayer, to so many spiritual writings, and now to my beloved on-line community of connection! I actually have vast resources, maybe not monetary ones at the level I want, but human resources. I hope, Dear Reader, I can be such a resource for you!

How do you use the resources that you do have?

What do we spend money on? Like so many of us, I probably spend way too much on Amazon! The modern world has made it easy to buy darn near anything, and have it in a few days, or less. But I forget that such shopping has made “mom and pop” stores obsolete in so many places. It also wiped out getting to know “Bob” at the hardware store, as I just bought the tool online, and went with quick and connection-less shopping. Am I saying to quit Amazon, Shopify, or Uber-Eats, etc? No, but as we choose one resource, we don’t choose another, and there are consequences.

I can honestly say my consumerism is much more based on efficiency than connection. I think somewhere in my head: “I have a blog to write–I do not have time to drive to some store and hunt for a product.” (I don’t actually say that.) But many times the “quick click” on my phone or computer is not Aligned with Love, or is any love involved at all. Again, no guilt-trip is intended. My wife has various health issues that makes walking often painful for her, so she orders groceries online and picks them up. And yes, I could roam the grocery store on her behalf, but I think she would not be pleased with the results, and here we are.

There are reasons we do things online, but we should stop sometimes to look at how we use that resource, and why.

With all these Components of Life: Time, Tasks, Relationships, and Resources, we must take some time to think on them.

We have to slow down.

I have tried with each one of these Components to give some thoughts on things to look at. With Time, I of course pointed out time spent online, and on our phones. Some of us spend a lot of time on this! This was something that only a few decades ago–did not even exist. With Tasks, I asked about what tasks may have outlived their usefulness, and were now “just because”. With Relationships, the point was made that every relationship matters. You don’t have to be buddy-buddy with everyone, but you can be polite and kind. Yes, you can. We can all think about how we use Resources, as residents of Planet Earth. We forget that so much of what we use is not “eternal”. It will wear out, break down, become obsolete, and so forth.

Be wise. Take some time, and look at the other three. Perhaps a relationship needs mending that we keep going over and over about in our heads. Maybe some tasks need to be delegated. Maybe it is time to get to know “Bob” at the hardware store, or push a cart around now and again for groceries. Just watch the lettuce!

Balancing these 4 Components of Life will help you become a more Loving Presence.

Ditching unnecessary tasks, or putting your phone down, will make you more present to family and friends. Dialing down some consumerism is better for the planet–you do not have to be a super-environmentalist to see that! Time with a book, sipping a beloved beverage, actually talking face-to-face with someone, are all ways to slow down, and bring some balance to our over-busy modern lives!

As I say so often: Honestly, try to look at these Components. I have given you a framework to evaluate a lot of day-today life. Running in circles, and pushing-pushing constantly is not healthy. I know there are seasons and situations where options are limited, but even a small little tweak in one of these Components can pay off tremendously in the journey to being more Aligned with Love.

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I hope you enjoyed this 4-Part Series. I usually do 3-Part series, but this was my first 4-Part. Let me know your thoughts. Think I missed some Component? Need some help balancing? I’d love to write more about it, at a later date. I’m going to give my yards some love, and run some “Reprints” for a bit.

Thank you so much for your time!

-Eric the Wordsmith

BP52

Have any additional thoughts or comments? You can click on the comment link, or you can email me at the address provided. Have ideas you want me to write about, or questions? Want to tell me how much you enjoy (or don't enjoy) my content? All are acceptable, but be nice, please. Thanks! alignwithlove85@gmail.com.