Balance. Oh, sweet balance. Why are you so hard to nail down? Just when I think have things figured out and in balance, things change and we get all out of whack again. Sometimes it’s a sudden event like a job loss, death, major car repair, big project deadline or illness that throws us off kilter. Other times things are buzzing along great and we slowly lose our grip on each other, sliding into old patterns that don’t serve us well.
Feeling in balance is a part of finding peace
Finding and maintaining balance is another component of living a peaceful life. But let’s be clear, there will always be things that come up in life to challenge your sense of peace and well-being. That is simply part of life. In my upcoming book (I am the Ocean: A Memoir) I talk about ocean as a metaphor for life. Storms, high surf and dangerous waves will always come. Resisting this inevitability doesn’t help you ride out the storm or clean up the aftermath.
Contrast offers growth
Besides, think about what life would be without the contrasts. What if there were no ocean storms? Would we appreciate the calm, beautiful seas? What if we only had great days with no challenges, pain, stress or discomfort? Would we recognize peace without turmoil? Could love feel as grand without knowing a painful breakup? How would we spiritually and emotionally grow without the challenges of life? Would I know how to stay in balance if I hadn’t learned what it was like to not be in balance?
Peace is an inside job
Peace isn’t about everything being peaceful around you. That would be impossible. Instead, it’s an inner state of being that allows you to find balance, be grounded, and continue to grow despite the circumstances of your life or the world. It contributes to your resilience when you feel off balance.
So how do you find and maintain balance in your life?
- Be aware: Take note of how you know you’re off balance. What happens when things are out of whack in your life? Does your temperament change? Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you forgetful? Understanding what makes you tick, in good times and bad, is critical to growth.
- Let Go: Go through the Finding Peace worksheet to accept and release those things that are out of your control. While we are in the thick of keeping all of the plates spinning, we often don’t take a moment to see if some of those plates belong elsewhere, or nowhere at all. Take back control. Check out my FREE 3 Steps to Finding Peace in Your LIfe worksheet for more guidance.
- Create Your Practice: Create a grounding, peaceful practice that suits you and makes you happy. This could be some form of meditation, yoga, walks, drawing, knitting, or whatever calms your soul.
- Accept the waves: Radically accept that life is in motion all the time. Accept that there will always be things that come up that interrupt your balance.
Imbalance opens up to growth
Show yourself grace without judgment when you struggle to find balance. Don’t ever beat yourself up. We’ll talk about the impact of negative self talk in later months. For now, consider that there may be a lesson there to learn before you regain equilibrium. Take a good, honest and accountable assessment of what brought you out of balance. Journaling is a great tool to uncover insight!
One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes feeling out of balance is a blessing. Have you considered that being in balance all the time is life without contrast? Where can growth happen within the status quo? Maybe the imbalance is there to show you another way. Stay open to the possibility of a new level of balance, a new path, or a new awakening in unhealed areas of your life.
