Over the last six columns, we explored in depth the dimensions that are central to helping you create a high quality of life and good health. Discussing each dimension in a separate column gives the illusion that each dimension stands on its own. In reality, the edge of each dimension blends with the next, overlapping and blending together, almost so you can't identify where one starts and one stops.

Being well requires a combination of factors from each dimension; that combination is unique to each individual. What is your balance point? What do you need to be well — not just in good health — but truly well?

I have searched for a model to show these relationships pictorially so that the image can demonstrate the inter-relatedness. Most pictures demonstrating these ideas visually show the relationship like a flower — picture Health in a circle with 6 identically shaped circles surrounding it. Each dimension's circle overlaps the one next to it and Health's circle just a bit, like a child's drawing of a daisy. But, this image doesn't allow the point that each dimension doesn't have to be the same size; in fact, they probably aren't. To some people, being physical is extremely important. They don't feel good unless they have had their exercise for the day; their "petal" of the daisy model for Physical would be larger than the other petals.

Left without a prefabricated model, I came up with my own. Instead of the flower model, think of a hanging scale — like what you use to weigh your produce at the grocery store. When it is balanced, the arrow will point straight up. When it is off balance, it will shift either to the right or left. Imagine that when the scale is in balance, it is within a "green" zone, indicating Wellness. This zone has a range both to the right and left of exact balance, allowing for normal fluctuation in your life.

To the right and left of this green zone are yellow areas. If your arrow falls into a yellow zone, you feel "off." You may be managing your daily life, but you aren't happy with how your life is progressing. Then further out to the right and left of those yellow zones are red zones. If your arrow falls into the red zone, your daily routines are falling apart — you need help, NOW.

If the scale becomes too light, it progresses through the yellow and red zone to the left, and as the scale becomes too heavy, it progresses through the yellow and red zone to the right. How do you get the arrow to move?

Imagine that each dimension is a solid ball that fits into the basket of the scale. Depending on what is happening in your life and what your strengths are, each individual ball will be a different size. Perhaps Social is the size of a grapefruit and Physical is the size of a kiwi. Perhaps Spiritual is the size of a watermelon. When the basket is filled "just right" the needle of the arrow will lie right in the green zone. As things change in your life, the sizes of the balls may change — perhaps illness comes and Physical is now the size of a grape. You have several choices. Maybe this is the time that your needle will fall into the yellow zone. Or, instead, perhaps Social now becomes the size of a Honeydew melon, making up for the decrease in Physical and your basket stays balanced.

How do you know how to fill your basket?

Try this visualization:

1. Close your eyes
2. Bring your attention to a time in your life when you felt superb — not just physically, but completely well in body, mind, and spirit. What was happening in your life? What wasn't happening in your life? What did it take to keep you in this "green zone?"
3. Now bring your attention to a time in your life when you were just "managing." Things weren't going exactly right and you felt "off." What was happening in your life at this time? What wasn't? What put you into this "yellow zone?"
4. Bring your attention to a time in your life when you were falling apart. Nothing was going right and you could almost feel the pieces of your body falling off — no amount of active management could keep you in one piece. What put you in that "red zone?"
5. Finally, bring your mind back to the time when you felt superb. What do you need to add or subtract from your life now so that you can be in this place again?

Finding your balance point is about adding and subtracting, enhancing and downplaying, bring out the good and releasing the bad. As you learn to balance out all the areas in your life, you will find that you become adept at knowing what can fill voids and what can leave your day-to-day life to keep the balance. It is about choices and intentional living. Knowing what keeps you healthy and well and learning to work on having those elements in your daily life.

But, the yellow and red zones will occasionally strike, even with the best laid plans. What you do when these times happen will determine how long you stay in these less than desirable zones.

Next month's column will be dedicated to describing Mind/Body techniques that can help you maintain balance and stay out of the red and yellow zones.