Living the Balanced Life

It can also be described as calm or harmony. In light of these two statements, balance sounds as though it could be beneficial for body, soul, the environment, our careers, our relationships, our economy, politics and the list becomes endless.

How do we find this balance in our own personal lives?

Take a moment to become quiet. The cells within your body immediately begin to notice your response. If your body responded by complying, there was a slight change in your posture and your breathing, the tension between your brows or in your neck softened. You have just experienced balance. It feels pretty good, doesn't it? It's not hard and it doesn't require hours of practice to feel the benefits. Best of all, it is available at a moment's notice, you can do it anywhere and it is free.

Before you begin to assess whether you did it correctly or whether you really experienced all of the beneficial effects, just take another moment to become quiet. This time rest your eyes for a few seconds before continuing. You have just learned how to remain balanced, even when your inner voice tries to snatch you out of your calm. The inner voice of negativity is a real harmony buster. Begin to initiate the 'taking a moment' quicker and more consistently when the inner voice appears. Establish harmony and balance as the norm in your life not the exception, by shifting into a neutral quiet place for a few seconds.

Change is always with us.

Change both from exte
al and internal factors is a constant and naturally occurring phenomena. It can complicate our ability to adjust in healthy ways especially if the changes are bigger than our capacity to cope with them. Coping is usually an unconscious maneuver, much like driving becomes almost automatic once we have gotten some experience behind the wheel. Coping becomes a much more conscious practice when we are overwhelmed. Change does not usually ask permission to rock our lives, it just happens.

How can we strengthen our capacity to cope with change?

Know that you are precious. Your health is precious. Your wellbeing is precious. Take care of your basic needs as best you can. It sounds very simplistic but this is crucial to building the strength that makes a balanced joyful life possible.

Sit down with pen and paper and chart out a typical day in your life. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you making time to begin your morning as gently as possible? A little preparation the night before can help. Encourage others in your home to take the proper amount of responsibility for their own basic needs as well. If this suggestion seems appropriate for your family, be careful to manage this in a way that fosters a calmer and more respectful attitude within the home.

How are you managing your time? Remember, we are looking at your life for balance. What is a balanced day for you? Did you include some time for play, work, reflection, and rest?

Are you eating well? Does what you eat satisfy? If not, ask yourself what is missing? How can you make eating a truly pleasurable experience? Check in with yourself, and begin by making simple changes. You are feeding mind, body and spirit. Strengthening all of these faculties will fortify your capacity to cope with life and change.

Lastly, steering clear of situations that overwhelm can take some planning. Be kind to yourself whenever possible. Take on less than you know that you can handle. Keep tabs on your stressors and plan big changes accordingly. Taking on too much responsibility can be overwhelming. Lighten your load wherever it is prudent and keep it that way. Indulge in something that you've been missing from the play, rest or reflection categories instead of taking on another burden.

Moment by Moment

We have explored some very complex issues in a notably simplistic manner. The good news is that you are a wonderfully intricate being capable of some extremely amazing ideas, impulses, thoughts and abilities. The strengths and skills that you have for living the balanced life will bubble up to the surface and become available to you now that you have opened your awareness a little more to this life puzzle. Take a moment to enjoy how miraculous change can be if it is balanced.

— Kim Krost