Do you have balance in your life? Or are you just great at balancing?
I feel like I have been looking for balance in my life forever … specially in the last 6 months since my back and hip injury, because balance sounds such a lovely idea.
In theory, it looks like a perfectly organised day, a calm mind, a tidy diary,
time for work, rest, exercise, socialising, and even a cup of tea that I actually drink while it is still hot.
However, in reality it can feel more like carrying five heavy bags of shopping, responding to messages, remembering what I walked into a room for, and wondering what I’ve got in the fridge for lunch. But maybe life isn’t about balance but about balancing, as best we can.
We hear about it all the time, I have even written blogs
and training notes about having a better balance between work and life, rest and productivity, looking after others and looking after ourselves. It even sounds calmer, more even, and sorted with everything sitting neatly in place, nothing too much, nothing too little, but honestly life is rarely like this, more often than not it just feels like balancing … and I’m not talking about standing on one leg.
There are similarities though. Balancing can feel dynamic, adjusting
as we go, shifting our weight, and catching things before they drop. Balancing is about letting something take priority for a while, knowing something else might need attention later. Some days will feel manageable, other days can feel like we are spinning plates and someone has just thrown two more into the mix without asking. Then, just when you think its all under control, the wobbles begin and we have to adjust — again!
Let’s not go near Perfect Balance though,
because this can quietly create pressure, making us feel like we might get it wrong if:
- work takes over for a while
- we feel tired and need more rest
- we can’t give equal attention to everything
- and life feels uneven
So it’s important to remember that life is uneven. There are seasons where one thing will naturally take more time and energy — that isn’t failure to balance, that is just the reality.
We need a
gentler way to think about it. Balance isn’t something we achieve, but it’s something we practise. Just like in class your teacher might talk about practising balance by standing on one leg to clean your teeth, balance in life is also a constant practise. It’s not a fixed state, but will need ongoing adjustment.
Some days we will lean more into one area of life, such as work or looking after others, some days we will need to rest. Some days will feel more steady, then
others will feel as if we are all over the place. Balance isn’t about getting it perfect, it’s about noticing when things feel off and gently readjusting.
This is really important for our wellbeing because if we constantly feel like we are chasing perfect balance we will inevitably feel like we are falling short. Instead we should learn to accept balance as being part of life:
- we become more flexible
- we are less self-critical
- we respond rather than
react
- stress feels more manageable
- physically we will soften
- there will be less bracing
- less tension
- more adaptability.
And just like balancing on one leg, the body won’t be completely still: there will be small adjustments, continuously, tiny shifts, subtle corrections. We don’t want to lock everything tight because this will throw our balance, so if we accept movement, breath, responsiveness, then balance becomes possible. We
balance, we wobble, we adjust, we go again … we become better at balancing.
Take a look at your life and ask yourself where in my life am I trying to achieve better balance? What is it that is making you feel out of balance, and what small adjustments could help you to feel a little more steady this week?
Remember, sometimes balance isn’t about holding everything perfectly … it’s about not falling over when things begin to
wobble.
Have a good week everyone — keep looking, moving, and feeling good.
With love and support,
Jane xxx
