Revitalizing Your Most Important Asset
February 2008

Revitalizing Your Most Important Asset

In college I owned a 1965 sky blue Mustang convertible for a couple of years.  It was a hand me down from my aunt and it was the only time in my life that an automobile mattered to me.  So why is this relevant now?  I didn’t know how to take care of it.  There were a few small rips in the upholstery, a noise in the engine that I ignored by turning the radio up, and the salted streets in the Buffalo snow-belt did mayhem to the undercarriage.  By the time I left town all I could do was sell it to a friend for $200 because he had to be careful not to put his foot through the rusted out floor in a couple of places.  What would it have been worth 10 or 20 years later if I had taken pristine care of it?

So what’s your most important asset?  I would assert it’s not your car, your home, your investments, or even your company or professional competency.  It’s your health.  Without it none of your other assets matter.  With it you are able to make your contribution to the world and enjoy the benefits of doing so.  So how well are you caring for your most important asset?  Sometimes we take better care of our cars than ourselves.  At least we remember to get an oil change every 3000 miles.  What have you done for yourself lately?  Even if you think you are doing well enough to feel bullet proof, the signs of wear and tear in your body or spirit may be telling you a more subtle story.

In late December I noticed achiness in my shoulders, excessive tiredness, and a growing apprehension over all the responsibilities and opportunities that were piling up.  Eventually there was a tipping point that resulted in a very nasty flu.  In retrospect the changes I could have made to my preventative maintenance program were obvious.  But it was too late, as the ounce of prevention had not been there to prevent the pound of cure.  And I wish it had only taken a pound!  Fortunately, when we get off track in life there are both warning signs and ultimately, forced reflection and renewal if we miss the signs.  We are not indestructible no matter how much we think we are.

So how do we take care of ourselves in a world that seems to demand yet another pound of flesh every time we turn around?  Here are a few ideas:

• Exercise and nutrition are the obvious starting points – they are necessary but insufficient.
• Relaxing and enjoyable activities that are genuinely fun can easily be set aside “temporarily” when we’re busy – this is where you need to challenge your tendency to compromise yourself.
• There’s your time in reflection or remembrance you need to fill your heart with positive energy.  Stopping the constant motion with 10 minute intervals of “being present” with your experience and listening to your heart’s guidance on what’s bothering you is powerful medicine.
• Telling yourself and others the truth about what you can and can not do is the ideal way to turn your reflection and insight into liberating action.  See our Remedy for Overwhelm in the Resource section of our website for details.
• And then there’s the discipline of giving yourself 4-5 days away from your life occasionally to reinvigorate your soul and renew your professional direction.  It even beats an oil change and a tune up!

So what will you be worth in 10 or 20 years?  I suggest it depends on your health.  Instead of falling into the trap of “I can’t take the time” you’ll need to assert “I must take the time.”  Renewal is a prerequisite to lasting performance.  Either you do it for yourself or you allow your most important asset to rust out and chug along while ignoring problematic noises in your engine.  I have learned and relearned this lesson numerous times in my career – sometimes doing very well and other times stumbling and learning the hard way.  Our hope is you will let our lessons touch your heart so you will make the most of what really matters to you and enjoy the ride!

Submitted with humility by Paul Werder