Mental Audits and Restructuring
Just like every company needs to run regular audits of how the business is doing against its goals, examining where resources are going, how much money is being spent, and what’s the return on investment and cash flow, a human being needs to run audits on themselves.
If we as people don’t do this, then we squander our most precious resource—our energy and time—and risk going bankrupt (emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically). The problem, however, is that we as humans can be ill-defined, focusing on what’s right in front of us to the detriment of ourselves, and then squandering our energy in other ways.
To combat this, we need to take a step back, take some quiet time, and look at ourselves and how we are experiencing our own lives. Where are we spending our time, and is it contributing to our personally defined bottom line? How can we take tangible steps like: I’m going to shave this time on politics, which I can’t do anything about anyway, and spend more time developing my friendships, learning something that inspires me, and working on my physical and emotional health.
Define Your True Goals: The Foundation Before the Mental Audit
Firstly, we must take some quiet time to define what makes us content. What do we truly value and desire? Depending on our ages or experiences, it is going to vary.
We must also look at whether our current goals are influenced by what our families or society deems as worthy, versus what is authentic to us.
From this important foundation, we are ready for the mental audit.
The Mental Audit: Tracking Your Energy and Time ROI
Where are we spending our mental energy, and is it paying off? How is it conducive to our quality of life in the present and for our future selves? Often, we don’t think about our lives this way, and we remain scattered, inefficient, squandering our time and energy because we haven’t stepped back and looked at ourselves, our habits, and our precious resource—our energy and our time.
To gain mental clarity, ask yourself these core questions:
- What brings me happiness or well-being?
- Who brings me happiness or well-being?
- What fills me with purpose (aligning with my values)?
- What activities invigorate me?
- What mindsets bring better outcomes?
Taking the time to tune in, write down on paper to solidify, what life you want to create. Get into the details such as how do I want to feel daily, who am I surrounded by, do I feel at peace, excited, or do I want a life that gives me both in different areas? If I’m not feeling that now, how can I create more of that? We must define what lives we want for ourselves to be truly aligned with ourselves.
The Restructuring Process: Aligning Your Life with Your Values
Next comes the natural restructuring process, whether minor or major.
Once we establish this framework of our true desires and values, we have something to measure against—and are ready to run an audit on ourselves in a brave act of self-awareness.
Here’s an example of one of my audits—I was spending too much time on politics and researching the banking system. It served a purpose at one point in my life and helped me to become more knowledgeable on investing and how the world works, but at this stage, it’s not bringing happiness or new knowledge. In fact, it’s a drag! I need to take that time and energy and place it into getting my health back, my energy, and nurture my relationships, which all bring me well-being, joy, and meaning.
Then I challenge you to get even more granular or micro—am I letting people who hurt me in the past or bothered me today eat up my precious mental energy—or do I focus it on what my current goals are (more joy, learning to cook, getting to someone better, creative outlets, positive thoughts)?
Soul-Prompt: Have I defined my true, authentic values and desires? From there, what doesn’t align on a daily basis—from my thought patterns to things I engage in, or people I engage with? What do I need to restructure to be more aligned with my own definition of happiness and success?
