What's the cost of the life that you are living?

In business, when making a decision to make an investment, a cost-benefit analysis is often carried out. "Is it worth paying out £x amount to purchase a piece of equipment for the company?"

You may argue that the investment is vital for business growth, drawing in revenue that you would never have dreamt of.  And so instantly you say "Yes! Of course! Why not?!"

But then you look at the price tag...Ouch! And the cost of maintaining the new piece of equipment...Yikes!

As you add up the numbers, you realise it's costing you more to keep this new purchase alive! And the cost is driving your business to operate at a loss. The business decision is made. Financially, the investment does not add up!

So, how does this apply to your life?

What if you evaluated your life choices using the same principles? Would you choose to continue living the life that you are living? Or would you make some changes? 

A cost-benefit analysis can help you to:

• weigh up the pros and cons of a situation
• raise your awareness of the costs and problems that may be incurred
• evaluate the real cost of a decision before incurring those costs in hindsight
• take the next step…whether it’s a yes or no - because the results give you awareness

How to do a cost-benefit of your life

Think about where you are right now and the lifestyle that you are living.

Grab a notepad and pen, find some quiet space, and try to be as honest as you can in answering these questions.

Focussing on the benefits of your lifestyle:

• Look at your job. List down all the parts of the job that you love, and what you get from your work. Notice the proportion of time that you feel this way.
• When you are at work, and if your mind wanders, where does it wander to?
• What does your work enable you to pay for? and how satisfied do these items make you feel? 

Now take a look at where you spend your time outside of contracted work hours. 

• Where are you spending your time? Are you still working or catching up on sleep to recuperate your energy from work or can you spend quality time with family and friends or use the time to develop yourself?

Look at the quality of the time spent with others or activities...

• Are you present, or is your mind back at work?

Consider the relationship you have with money and the purchases you make...

• Do they add real value to your life? Or was it really a source of escapism?
• What meaning do your major assets, your house, car…have for you?
• And what would it feel like to not have this payment?

How about your energy and how you look after it... or don't…

• What choices do you make with the food and drinks you consume?
• How do you suppose your choices are impacting your health?
• Would you make the same choices if you were in a different situation? And what choices would they be?
• Does what you do inspire you, bring you happiness and joy? Or do you look back with resentment?

Think about your energy with others...

• Are your conversations with others positive and energetic?
• Or could they be perceived as draining and resentful?

Notice how you respond to the above questions. 

• What emotions arise when you look at each question you have faced
• Where your attention goes within and external to your body

And for now, just allow yourself to sit with an awareness (with no next steps) that either: 

a) the benefits of my life's choices outweigh the cost

b) the costs outweigh the benefits by far

c) they are much of a muchness

And just be in that space. For now...

A cost-benefit analysis is a vital step in the decision-making process, but may not be the only one! Life is a series of decisions and staying in the same situation is a decision in itself. The reality is making a decision is much more complex than just one step. Other steps include:

• Evaluating your energy blockers to what may be stopping you from moving forwards.
• Understanding what you truly value, and how this life is aligned to who you truly are.
• Understanding what you want to create, who you want to be, do and have.
• What you need to do to reach the person you want to be. 

Sounds like this road may take you on a journey?

Sure will…but it's a thrilling and eye opening journey!