Finding Balance

52 Weeks - Week 19

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” Jana Kingsford

Funny thing, but when I am in balance I don’t notice because I feel good and my life is flowing well. It’s when I’m feeling off that I notice something needs to shift. When I am present and aware I can easily realign and keep on flowing. But…if you’re like me, most of us don’t even notice we are falling out of balance until we have already toppled over. We tend to fall apart when things aren’t going smoothly. Our traumas and dramas keep us preoccupied and something that might be easily adjusted isn’t.

“There is no such thing as work-life balance. It is all life. The balance has to be within you.” Sadhguru

For me, being balanced has always been a thing. I couldn’t tolerate feeling disharmony in any way. I was over the top sensitive to bad vibes and hated just as much making anyone else feel bad. It took me a long time to realize that my idea of feeling balance within myself and with others was extremely dysfunctional. I just wanted us all to feel good. Lots of inner work later, when I realized I am responsible for my feelings and no one else’s did I began to find true balance. I still don’t like disharmony but I have a more realistic view of who and how I am in the world. I can’t control how anyone else feels but I can take care of my own feelings.

Creating balance is a choice, it means that no matter what life throws at you, or what you do or don’t get done, you maintain an inner sense of peace – a calm in the midst of chaos. BeBalancedCenters.com

We are all unique, so how we juggle the pieces of our lives to maintain balance and feel centered is also unique. Living a healthy balanced life means different things to each of us. We have so many moving parts and keeping them in sync and healthy takes awareness. There are lots of clues that let us know when we are out of balance. We get grouchy, irritable, stressed, and frustrated for no apparent reason or scapegoat our upset on someone or something else. We feel moody, sad or depressed, can’t figure out why and blame others for our feelings.

Being in balance feels good, like all your parts— body, mind, emotions & spirit—are in sync.

Being aware and noticing you are out of balance is a huge key, and the beginning to reclaiming yours. Having strategies to rebalance when you are feeling out of it is your way back. Most important though is to realize you can’t always change what’s going on outside of you but you can change how you feel about it.

Strategies for Finding Balance

There are lots of things you can do to regain your balance but the best idea is to find your balance within and eventually everything in your life will fall into place.

1. What does balance look/feel like for you. Think about it. Look at your life, the things that flow well and the things that don’t. What can you do about it? Change what you can and what you don’t like. Change your attitude about what you can’t change.

2. Do the easy things first. What can you shift or change in your day-to-day that will immediately support you feeling more balanced? Do those things. Give yourself some slack and let go of the things that no longer serve you, bog you down and keep you feeling off-center.

3. Creating balance takes intention. How much do you want to feel good? It takes persistence to change the habitual behaviors that keep us imbalanced. Think about your life and all the things you can change if you give up whatever it is you are getting from staying where you are. Things like sympathy from others for all you have to do, for being a victim, righteous anger because (you fill in the blank), admiration for your sacrifices, and so on. There are many reasons we hold on to our dysfunctions, but each time we recognize one of ours it’s a chance to become more functional.

4. Creating balance takes action. There is no hurry here. This is a one-step-at-a-time thing. It’s taken us most of our lives to get where we are, so there is no need to rush to get back into balance. You can’t because it’s not a fast deal. It’s a thoughtful, purposeful way to reclaim your inner balance. When approached that way, things change slowly but surely. Take one action today that can make a positive difference in your life. Stick with that action until it is a norm for you. Then move on to the next thing. We’ve got time to do this right. Frantically rushing to regain your balance is just adding more to your out-of-balanceness.

5. It’s all about inner balance. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, there is no balance anywhere for us without finding our inner balance. This is where all the techniques in the 52 Weeks emails come in handy. Check them out for useful strategies. Using your breath to find center always helps—especially when you are so out of balance you don’t know where to turn. One breath-at-a-time over and over until you feel calm. Listening in to your heart and inner guides for clues on how to proceed. Stop complaining and find gratitude in your life. Tell yourself a better story and come up with what-ifs about the ease and flow of your life. Use what works for you.

Resources

10 Simple Ways to Nourish Your Body, Mind & Soul

What does it mean to live a balanced life?

Journal Prompt

· What does your state of balance look like in your day-to-day life?

· Describe your inner balance?

· What’s one action you can take right now to begin to regain your balance? Explain.

· What’s the one thing that throws you out of balance the most?

· What’s the one thing you do that keeps you feeling centered?

Final Thoughts

I’ve been obsessed with balance for so long it is automatic for me to keep moving back to center, especially when there is some drama. It’s not always easy but it feels better than losing my balance to something that doesn’t serve me. There are always ways to resolve negative issues easier and more efficiently when I am centered. I like feeling good and I like harmony. Staying balanced gives me those things.