🌿 The Well-being Balance Sheet
A Guide to Measuring True Abundance
Unlike a financial statement that only tracks what you "spend" and "earn," this balance sheet tracks your Life-Sustaining Capital. Use this to audit your "true wealth" across four core domains.
I. Domain: Waiora (The Living World)
Shift from viewing the environment as a "resource" to viewing it as a "relative".
Reflective Indicator: On a scale of 1–10, how connected do I feel to the "whakapapa" (ancestry/kinship) of the land I live on?
The "Taking" (Ecological Footprint)
The "Giving" (Ecological Handprint)
Material Consumption: Are my physical needs being met within biophysical limits?
Restoration: How many "drops" of effort have I put into healing the soil, water, or local biodiversity?
Waste Generation: What am I leaving behind that the earth cannot easily "digest"?
Stewardship (Kaitiakitanga): Have I acted as a guardian for a local natural relative (a river, a park, or a garden)?
II. Domain: Whanaungatanga (Social & Community Connection)
Moving from individual "human capital" to the "abundance of we".
Reflective Indicator: How many people in my community could I rely on for a "heart-space" conversation today?
Assets (Strengths)
Liabilities (Gaps)
Social Flourishing: Do I have a "circle" where I can share my truth and be heard?
Isolation: Am I trying to carry the weight of global or local crises alone?
Cultural Wellbeing: Am I actively participating in or protecting the traditions and stories of my community?
Scarcity Thinking: Am I viewing my neighbors as competitors rather than collaborators?
III. Domain: Mana Tāne & Mana Wāhine (Individual Flourishing)
Focusing on the capabilities required to live a life of purpose, balance, and meaning.
Reflective Indicator: Does my current "budget" of time and energy allow for "balance," or am I stuck in a cycle of constant growth?
The "Quantitative" (The Basics)
The "Metaphysical" (The Intangibles)
Physical Health: Do I have the vitality and safety needed to function?
Wairua (Spirit): Do I feel a sense of spiritual or metaphysical alignment in my daily work?
Time Wealth: Do I have enough "unscheduled" time to rest and observe the world?
Purpose: Do I feel my daily actions contribute to a larger, positive story?
IV. Domain: Manaakitanga (Intergenerational Stewardship)
Intergenerational Equity
Is my lifestyle today "borrowing" from the wellbeing of my great-grandchildren?
Knowledge Sharing
Am I passing down skills (like composting, listening, or growing food) that build future resilience?
Sustainable Scale
Am I advocating for systems that respect planetary boundaries over short-term financial gain?
How to "Audit" Your Results
In a Well-being Economy, there is no "final number." Instead, look for Alignment.
The Surplus
Where are you feeling most abundant? (e.g., "I have a surplus of community connection.")
The Investment
Where do you need to "drop" more attention? (e.g., "I need to invest more in my connection to the natural environment.")
The Vision
Is your personal "budget" moving toward the Wellbeing Economy Vision (WEV)—where the earth's health is the foundation of your own?
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