I’ve been thinking a lot about balance recently, the tipping point between too much and not enough.
I’m noticing that a healthy, happy life requires balance in all areas.
Enough rest to restore and enough movement to maintain vitality.
A diverse mix of clean food to nourish and enough treats to add fun and avoid cravings.
Saving habits that build wealth and enough splash money for occasional splurges.
Enough ease to notice life and enough pressure to stay motivated.
It’s all about balance…. So how do you know what’s enough?
This is where it gets tricky. There’s no measures that work for everyone, all the time. A balanced approach doesn’t mean having equal amounts of both extremes.
Many years ago, long before my babies arrived, I was clearly out of balance with work, health and play.
I worked and worried a lot. Fifty plus hour weeks were the norm. I was often sick, always tired, had no hobbies and missed out on many social events.
When I did show up for life I was too stressed to enjoy it. Too tired to exercise and too worried to go to bed early, let alone sleep through the night. I was however, earning great money, mentoring and making a difference and I felt valuable.
Work/Life balance was a mirage. I read about it, thought about it, I even said I wanted it, and yet it seemed to exist just beyond my reach. Because, there was always another reason, another project, another launch that I needed to work on at home or go in for on my day off.
Like I said, this was before I had my babies. Once they arrived life took a new twist. Paid work moved to the background and ‘life’ and ‘being a Mum’ moved forward.
But my babies aren’t babies now and I’ve been frolicking in ‘life’ a lot lately. Work seems to be the mirage. The balance is once again off.
I no longer have the stress of too much work, I also don’t have enough work to gain the sense of achievement and satisfaction I desire.
When the balance is off in either direction, it feels equally yuck.
A reckless life of chaos is no more fulfilling than a regimented life of reason.
As a workaholic I felt tired, sick, exhausted, resentful and oblivious to my environment.
As a life-aholic I feel as if I play all day and I feel unfulfilled, lost and wasteful of my time and energy.
The balance exists in a delicate space between being and doing, work and play, force and ease, logic and passion.
It’s a fluid space ‘being in balance’, you don’t remain there. It’s not a destination to arrive at with equal distance either side.
Balance is a space you drift in and out of.
When you’re in balance, it feels good. Just right. Harmonious. It’s where life flows with ease and you make contributions that fill you up.
Your version of balance is worth aiming for, not the equal parts kind, but having enough of what YOU need in all areas of life to feel satisfied.
To be eating foods that nourish and fuel you, and allowing for some decadence at times.
Moving your body in a way that protects and strengthens you without causing injury and decay.
Having spontaneous fun with the kids while maintaining boundaries and routines.
Offering just enough support and guidance while leaving room for independence to blossom.
Balance is an overall satisfaction in your parenting, relationships, career, finance, creativity, health, spirituality, growth and fun. Yes fun!
Its knowing what YOU need more of and less off to feel satisfied, joyful, fulfilled and energised.
Instead of rolling though life with wonky wheels, take a big picture view of your life. Think about where you’re devoting your energies, attention and time.
What do you want more of? Less of?
What are you holding back from? What’s your mirage?
Decide today what you can do to bring balance back into your life. It’s up to you.
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