Balancing Work, Relationships & Life in Three Simple Steps

By Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Are you seeking more balance in your life? Is there an aspect of your relationships you'd like to change and don't know where to start? Do you find it difficult to balance priorities between family and friends while supporting your career? Join best-selling author and life transition coach Michael Thomas Sunnarborg as he guides you through his powerful and poignant three-book series designed to help you find better balance in your work, relationships, and life.

This book contains the entire text of 21 Days to Better Balance, 21 Steps to Better Relationships, and 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance in their entirety, and was previously released under the title, 21 Days, Steps & Keys: The Complete Book Series to Better Balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Thomas Sunnarborg
• Release date: Jun 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311924964

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg is an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, and life transition coach. His passion is to help people reclaim their power of choice and find better balance in their work, relationships, and life—especially during transitions. Michael currently resides in Minnesota and enjoys traveling to new destinations, meeting interesting people, and having quality conversations over good food. Learn more at michaelsunnarborg.com

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What Others are Saying about Balancing Work, Relationships & Life

Powerful, concise, specific. Michael pulls out EXACTLY what we need to know in the right number of words. You will be overwhelmed by the 'ahas!' - Sandra Beckwith, Editor and Publisher, Build Book Buzz

Michael outlines clear, insightful lessons about life that have immediate application. Through stories and action steps, he shows how to make every day an opportunity for growth that enriches life, work, and the balance of the two. - David Mann, Performance Specialist, High Stakes Presenting

"Balancing Work, Relationships & Life… puts things into perspective first thing in the morning, setting the tone for each amazing day. Deep, delicious, and thought provoking. Perfect for my busy world!" - Honoree Corder, Author of Vision to Reality

Balance is everything in life! Michael Sunnarborg provides a clear and pragmatic approach for creating new and healthier habits in our lives. – Elliott Masie, Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

Mahatma Ghandi once said that happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony. These books succinctly state the building blocks to such happiness through a balanced life. They are truly transformational. – Deepak/Dick Sethi CEO, Organic Leadership

Balancing Work, Relationships & Life

in Three Simple Steps

By Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2016 Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part – other than fair use as either brief quotations or in a review – without expressed written permission from the author. Select names in this publication have been used with permission. All other names are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The intent of this book is to offer information of a general nature to help support physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The author assumes no responsibility for any actions as a result of reading and/or applying any of the information or recommendations presented in this book.

Edited by Beth Wallace & Elizabeth (Bette) Frick, PhD, ELS

Cover design by Scott Smith, 12 50 Design, Asheville, NC

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Order printed copies of this book online at

michaelcreative.com/books

* * *

For my Nieces, Nicolette & Natalie.

In honor of all writers, coaches, and people finding their passion and voice. Keep On.

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Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Book One: 21 Days to Better Balance

Book One Introduction

Chapter 1: Welcome to Awareness

Day 1: Thoughts

Day 2: Feelings

Day 3: Intuition

Day 4: Frequency

Day 5: Fear

Day 6: Time

Day 7: Flow

Chapter 2: Moving Into Alignment

Day 8: The Body

Day 9: Relationships

Day 10: Silence

Day 11: Truth

Day 12: Intention

Day 13: Purpose

Day 14: Abundance

Chapter 3: The Key is Activation

Day 15: Choice

Day 16: Boundaries

Day 17: Perspective

Day 18: Focus

Day 19: Empathy

Day 20: Allowing

Day 21: Gratitude

Book Two: 21 Steps to Better Relationships

Book Two Introduction

Chapter 4: Welcome to Awareness

Step 1: Know Thyself

Step 2: Communication

Step 3: Boundaries

Step 4: Frequency

Step 5: Love

Step 6: Power

Step 7: Freedom

Chapter 5: Moving Into Alignment

Step 8: Trust

Step 9: Intention

Step 10: Purpose

Step 11: Allowing

Step 12: Listening

Step 13: Appreciation

Step 14: Timing

Chapter 6: The Key is Activation

Step 15: Begin Within

Step 16: Walk in Their Shoes

Step 17: Choose For Yourself

Step 18: Befriend Your Family, Befamily Your Friends

Step 19: Soften Your Stance

Step 20: Go With the Flow

Step 21: Enact Love

Book Three: 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance

Book Three Introduction

Chapter 7: Welcome to Awareness

Key 1: The Balance Myth

Key 2: Choice

Key 3: Intention

Key 4: Frequency

Key 5: Strengths

Key 6: Power

Key 7: Know Thyself

Chapter 8: Moving Into Alignment

Key 8: Communication

Key 9: Boundaries

Key 10: Environment

Key 11: Purpose

Key 12: Relationships

Key 13: Trust

Key 14: Appreciation

Chapter 9: The Key is Activation

Key 15: Begin Within

Key 16: Human Being, Human Doing

Key 17: Live Your Passion on Purpose

Key 18: Manage the Leader Within

Key 19: Soften Your Stance

Key 20: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Key 21: Go With the Flow

Closing

About the Author

Acknowledgements

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Preface

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

George Bernard Shaw

My search for better balance began while I was living in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the 1990s. A good friend and I were making observations about how the mind, body, and spirit are connected. We discussed how our life experience reflected our state of balance; the more balanced we were, the more serenity and peace we felt. As time passed, I began to document the observations and insights I was experiencing, and 15 years later the books began to appear.

In my first book, 21 Days to Better Balance, I introduced 21 themes to help readers connect with themselves and find more balance in their mind, body, and spirit. Book two, 21 Steps to Better Relationships, helped readers strengthen their relationships and find more balance with others. The third book, 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance, brought the concept of integration—rather than separation—to understanding the delicate balance between our lives and careers. This book contains the entire text of all three books.

Balance is a natural state. Returning to better balance means removing the barriers to balance within us, many of them created by our own thoughts and behaviors. My books, blogs, coaching and speaking engagements highlight the guiding principles that have had the largest impact on my ability to find more balance and harmony in my life. Sometimes the best teacher is our own experience.

My hope is that the personal observations, insights, and stories I’ve used to help find better balance in my life will help you find better balance in yours.

To your best balanced life!

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

June 2016

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Introduction

The human brain naturally searches for patterns. A common theme in all three of my books is the number 21. This number was derived from the premise for the first book, which is based on the notion that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Rather than writing in a typical narrative style, I chose to divide the guiding principles into 21 bite-sized portions; this felt more palatable and easier to digest. Subsequently, the theme of 21 resonated as the foundation for the second and third books.

The human brain also tends to retain more information that’s been divided in two or three parts but becomes less effective with memory as the number grows. Since my process for finding better balance naturally unfolded through three simple steps of awareness, alignment, and activation, I chose to apply those steps to each of the books as the main chapters, allowing for a consistent pattern to become familiar and be easily integrated by the reader.

Within each of the three chapters are seven themes outlining the balance process. Along with the themes, some chapters contain exercises to help reinforce that stage of development. At the end of each theme are questions for a Balance Plan and either an Affirmation, Call to Action, or Key Actuator.

The books contain three chapters, each focusing on one of the three steps of awareness, alignment, and activation. Each chapter leads you through seven themes outlining the balance process. Along with the themes, some chapters contain exercises to help reinforce that stage of development. At the end of each theme are questions for a Balance Plan and either an Affirmation, Call to Action, or Key Actuator.

You might find it useful to journal about the Balance Plan questions, or simply mull them over during your day. They can also serve as a useful meditation focus; simply bring the question into your mind during your regular meditation practice and notice the thoughts that float up in response. Repeating the affirmations can help you internalize the lessons from each day. You might post them on your bathroom mirror or computer monitor. I know one person who posts each day’s affirmation in the middle of her car’s steering wheel so that she remembers it on the way to work and on her way home.

The Call to Action and Key Actuator are to-do activities designed to help you apply the lessons from each theme. Putting theory into practice helps integrate the concepts into your experience.

The themes are progressive and will be best-understood if read in order—at least the first time through. Then after you’ve completed the book you can return to any of the themes or exercises to refresh yourself as needed. Also, some of the themes and stories have been repeated in more than one book. This was done intentionally to reinforce the strongest guiding principles.

The content in this book is very direct. If any of the introductory text feels overwhelming, try skipping down and reading the analogy or story before re-reading the larger messages. This may help you set the appropriate context for the daily theme.

These books will help you create a Balance Plan. The plan is meant to help you apply the insights contained in this book. Start by thinking of a current problem or situation in your life where you’d like to create better balance—for example, your job, your finances, or a relationship—and use the plan to document your answers to the daily questions. Your plan can help shed light on the situation and support you in brainstorming potential solutions.

Let’s get started!

Book One

21 Days to Better Balance

Find More Balance in a Busy World

Book One Introduction

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Over the next 21 days, I’m going to lead you through a three-step process of awareness, alignment, and activation designed to gently shift your perspective, remove barriers, and help you find better balance in your mind, body, and spirit. At the end