What
is QUOL ?
QUOL stands for "quality of life". This is a term which is
often used in many contexts and it means different things to different
people. The important point is that QUOL for one person is very likely to
be different to the next person. Factors such as whether you are single or
have a partner, have children, your age, living location, all impact
significantly on the meaning of QUOL
for you.
In
many instances QUOL is simply defined in terms of an economic situation.
It is true that economics are an important aspect of QUOL
however it is but one component that contributes to the overall
development of a QUOL. As many of us have found we have achieved economic
"success" but still do not have the ideal QUOL that we
desire. I guess there is some truth in the old adage that money alone
cannot buy you happiness.
In
order for all of us to define what our ideal QUOL
is we must stop and do
something which none of us do enough of - think. As obvious as it sounds it is impossible for any of us to achieve
our ideal QUOL unless we have firstly defined very clearly what it is. It is like
heading to Kathmandu with no map, no direction and no compass - how likely
is it that you will land there - not very!
QUOL
should be considered for both now as well as the future. We often accept
situations or conditions that are not what we want based on the
assumption that in the future we will achieve our specific outcomes. This
will always form part of our strategy as we evolve and progress through
life. QUOL refers to life - not "life in the future". If we
view our life as a journey with the outlook of getting enjoyment along the
way, rather than life as a destination, it may provide us with some
guidelines for a more balanced QUOL.
In
essence QUOL - "quality of life" -
is
achieved when we have managed to balance all aspects of our lives on a day
to day basis, while ensuring that our value system is upheld and consistent
with the way we choose to live, both today and in the future.
Sounds
complicated - time to move on to working out how you define your QUOL.
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