For many years -- actually, for my whole life -- I have been a keen observer of human behavior.  I have watched decisions that people make.  I have noticed the choices that they select in their lives.  One's decisions and choices reflect what is important in one's life.  They are clear indicators of what each individual values.

   The following questionnaire is to assist you in becoming more aware of what you value in your life.  Thoughtfully answering the following brief six (6) questions will present you with 
         a)  a clearer idea of how you operate in the world;
        b)  of what your actions can tell you about what
              has truly been important to you;  
              and -- perhaps, most important of all -- 
        c)  of what you can change, if you find a reason
              to do so!

AWARENESS QUESTIONNAIRE

    To get a clearer picture for yourself of what you value, and what has importance for you, print off this article and answer the following six (6) questions for yourself.  I have left space for you to include your own answers.

    1.  What is important to you?  What do you value?

      Typical responses that I have been given when I have asked these questions of various people include the following:
                    my health,
                    my family,
                    my profession,
                    my animals,
                    the ecology
     Breaking down "health" into its components, some people include physical health; others, mental health; and, still others, refer to spiritual health.  Some include all three.

 
    2.  Exactly how much money you spend each money on
          your
              mental-emotional health          $_______
              physical/sexual health              $_______
              spiritual health                            $_______

    3.  Write down how much of the 43,200 minutes -- or 720
          hours -- each month you invest in your

           mental-emotional health        _____min/hr

           physical/sexual health           _____min/hr     

           spiritual health                         _____min/hr  

    Some examples of things you might be doing to promote each area follow.  To promote your mental-emotional health, you could read self-help articles or books; you could attend a self-help class; you could spend time creating and utilizing affirmations.  To increase your physical health, you could spend routine time exercising, you could take vitamins regularly; you could cook your own whole-food meals; you could insist on the most-nutritious sources of food.  To advance your spiritual health, you could meditate or do self-hypnosis daily; you could take personal-growth classes; you could attend your favorite spiritual service.   

    4.  If you said that your health was important to you, do
          these figures confirm and reflect this to be so?

    5.   Now, complete the following table with approximate
          time-amounts and money-amounts that you spend
          each month on the following:

                                                        Min/Hr.    Dollars

    a.  entertainment                     _____        _____ 

    b.  wasting time/avoiding                
            doing something             _____        _____ 

    c.  purchasing/playing
            with toys                           _____        _____   

    d.  destructive habits
            (nicotine use, 
             eating junk food,
             using recreation-
             al chemicals,
             gambling, etc.                  _____        _____ 

    When you answer this, what do you notice?

     In conducting a poll containing the above questions with a group of 362 persons, the results were eye-opening.  The majority (234) of those polled who reported that they value, and find importance in, their health were spending less than 20% of their time and/or their money on creating and maintaining good health.  They reported that they still spent money and time on entertainment and toys.  They also reported that they still used time nonproductively avoiding doing things in their lives.

    So, they had the resources they could have devoted to their emotional/mental and physical and spiritual health.  They chose differently.

   6. What about you?  Are you acting consistently with what you say you value?  Or were your results similar to those of the persons polled?

    If you found that you are being consistent -- GOOD for you!  You deserve to give yourself a heart-felt pat on the back ... and keep on putting your resources on that which you recognize is important to you!  You are on the right track!