We’re all trying to live our best lives, right? Sometimes, we get stuck in one area – whether it’s spending all your spare time hitting the gym or counting every calorie to lose weight. We know the secret to true wellbeing is balance – but what does that actually mean?
That’s where the four ‘sets’ come into play: mindset, healthset, heartset, and soulset. These can be considered the four pillars to happiness, and you need a little bit of each to really find your balance.
Mindset: The Brain Food
Let’s kick things off with the mindset. Your mindset is like the software of your body—it drives how you think, act, and react. It is about personal growth, learning, and shifting your outlook to one that empowers you.
If you want to strengthen your mindset, here’s the deal: keep it active! This could mean reading something that challenges your thoughts or while you are out walking, listen to some empowering podcasts or TED talks. Trust me, you’ll come out the other end of your day a little wiser and a lot more motivated.
Healthset: Your Body’s Happy Place
Now let’s focus on healthset—your physical wellbeing.
Healthset is all about moving your body and making sure it feels good. You don’t have to train for a marathon (unless that’s your thing, and in that case—go for it!). Just get up, move around, and stretch! Brisk walks, a little yoga, or even dancing like no one’s watching can do wonders. Plus, don’t forget the basic stuff: eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, and get plenty of sleep. Because let’s face it, a lack of sleep can affect your overall wellbeing.
Heartset: Feed Your Emotions
Heartset means taking care of your emotional wellbeing. It’s about understanding your feelings, processing them, and making sure your emotional cup is full.
If you want to boost your heartset, a good starting point can be to practice gratitude. Write down the things you’re thankful for – even if the starting point is enjoying your “morning coffee”.
Heartset isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about being able to process your feelings in a healthy way. Giving yourself some space in your day-to-day life and permission to ‘feel’ rather than bottle things up can be challenging, but small steps will add up. So, when life gets messy (as it does sometimes), you’ll be ready to handle it with grace.
As well as checking in with yourself, heartset is about connecting with others, so actively nurture those relationships with those you care about and those who care about you.
Soulset: Finding Your Inner Peace
Finally, we have soulset. This is the deepest and most personal of the four sets. Soulset means connecting with your ‘purpose’ and finding ‘meaning in life’.
Creating a connection with your soul is less about doing and more about being. Soulset is the place where you find that “aha!” moment when everything aligns, and you just feel… at peace. Make space for those moments. Meditate, do yoga, or take a walk in the park or by the water if that’s your ‘happy place’. Connect with what feels deeply right for you. Reflect on what gives you purpose—and what makes you feel like you’re really living.
Creating your own routine
The popular book ‘The 5am Club’ by Robin Sharma, introduces the idea that tending to these four parts of yourself first thing in the morning will set you up for a balanced and empowering day – however you don’t have to join the 5am club to get the benefits of balance.
Creating your own routine is simple: pick one or two habits for each set (they can even overlap – going for a walk in nature can tick a few boxes if you do it right!) and start incorporating them into your daily life. Don’t overcomplicate it—just focus on being consistent, and remember, progress is the goal, not perfection.
Take the time to check in with yourself from time to time to see if one of your four pillars is languishing and put a little effort into strengthening that pillar to get the balance back.
When you focus on your mindset, healthset, heartset, and soulset, you’re growing a strong, healthy foundation for happiness.
