In working with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds, I’ve discovered a universal truth. If you take time to step back from the details of your daily life and focus on the bigger picture, you will find that there is probably an area or two in your life that is going well—maybe your job, your marriage, or your relationship with your kids. Most people can usually find some satisfaction in their lives.

On the other hand, there is usually one area that causes dissatisfaction—maybe even frustration or anger. You may be able to pinpoint those areas that make you unhappy, or if you are like many people, you may not be able to clearly identify these troubled areas.

In an effort to advance in one area of our life, we often neglect another. Marital problems can destroy a good career, just as career problems can derail a good marriage. By neglecting certain parts of our life, we allow these areas to infect the areas were we are satisfied. These problems have the potential to undermine our success and overall happiness in life.

A balanced life is comprised of different Life Zones—the major areas of your life that are most meaningful and important to you such as marriage, personal growth, health, financial, religion, etc.. What I value may not be what you value—it is common for different people to have different Life Zones.

The importance of good financial health cannot be overemphasized. Like poor physical health, financial health can have an immediate and dramatic impact on the other parts of your life. Financial difficulties can split marriages, tear families apart, and can be a catalyst for health problems.

Financial problems may well be the number one cause of divorce and relationship break-ups. Immediately following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, twice as many adult Americans who had difficulty sleeping were worried more about their finances than about national security. Our nation was attacked. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children were murdered. Our sense of security was jeopardized, but we continued to worry about our finances. Few other things in life have the power of money.

Money is the fuel that propels you to your goals. It is your ticket to the best schools, it provides the best healthcare, in short, money provides the opportunity to have the things you want, to accomplish your goals, and to grow as an individual.

Make no mistake, money does not provide a guarantee that you will get what you want, accomplish what you desire, or become a better person. In fact, it is not necessary for you to have a lot of money to achieve success in life. Mother Teresa had very little financial wealth, but immense happiness and satisfaction with her life.

Remember—money is not evil, the love of money is. Dr. Martin Seligman writes in his insightful book Authentic Happiness, “People who value money more than other goals are less satisfied with their income and with their lives as a whole. ” The pursuit of money is not unhealthy, the unrelenting pursuit of money at the expense of the other four elements of a balanced life is terribly unhealthy.

Sound financial health opens doors easily and quickly. My wife and I tried for two years to get pregnant with no results. We sought the counsel of a fertility specialist and eventually adopted. Anyone who’s gone through fertility treatments and/or adopted knows it isn’t cheap! Without a clear understanding of our financial situation and the assets to pay for treatment (insurance doesn’t cover infertility or adoption), we may not have the beautiful girl we have today.

Another benefit of working on your financial health is that you have total control over it. When you make improvements in other areas of your life the results are often slow to see. When you improve your finances, results can be visible immediately. Once you make a commitment to improve, your past decisions and behaviors are irrelevant.