The Balancing Act
As a child, I remember that see-saw was my favorite game. How much I longed to play with my cousins, but I was always told ,”we cant make proper balance with you.” My extra weight taking the one side down and my feather light cousin hanging in mid air. How much was balance required even when we were kids. Work-Life balance, emotional balance even hormonal imbalance. Life is all about the balancing act. If you are too emotional you may be called a sissy, if you are too strong and rigid, you may be called aloof. How much we wait to achieve it. Is balance simply hiring a maid if you are a working woman? Or is balancing taking your family for a vacation when you have been absent for almost every parent teacher meeting.
Balance what is it?
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If you go by the dictionary it is a device used to weigh till both the sides are equal, a state of equilibrium or a power of means to decide. In normal everyday life its simply to be able to manage various spheres of our lives such that not one is neglected. That we don’t feel too pulled in one direction and more importantly you feel calm and relaxed in the most difficult situation. Balance, hard it is to achieve but very necessary. To subscribe to the Buddha’s ideal of the Middle Way. As Eliza Doolittle would croon, “Wouldn’t it be lovely?!’’
Is such an ideal achievable? Like all absolute ideals, it too has its basis in the spiritual journey and it will be realized in its full perfection when we reach the end of that journey – when the ego has dissolved and the individual entity has merged with the larger consciousness.
Finding your Balance
We need balance, we may be paying too much attention to one sphere of our life and completely ignoring the other. For example, you may be spending too much time admiring your success but on the other hand your family may be suffering or vice versa. There are internal and external spheres in our lives which can be affected if not nurtured properly.
Internal
Mind: Stimulating your mind intellectually and relaxing it.
Soul: Keep your spirit alive and be optimistic. Not get overcritical and too judgemental.
Heart: Receive and give love.
External
Health: Maintain a healthy weight and good immunity.
Work: Balancing family life and at the same time achieving the desired goals and to provide your family.
Social: Family, friends, children and spouse. Maintaining and nurturing these relationships healthy.
Financially: Provide for a good comfortable life to your family.
The perks: Vacations, Luxuries and pluses you enjoy as a result of your hard work.
These may be the various spheres of our lives where we need to balance within their capacities as well as amongst them.
How do you achieve it?
Balancing is a consistent process. You have to keep reviewing the spheres of life. You may have to give priority to one at some point of time. But for this a little self assessment will be required. A few steps will help you achieve it:
1.Acknowledge: Take time to look at your life. How are things going? Do you feel that some part of your life is being neglected or ignored?
2.Examine patiently: Rather than jumping to conclusions and being impulsive examine the sphere and try to find the root cause.
3.Set Goals: Set goals for yourself in a way to achieve balance.
4.Make short term goals: Make a daily plan rather than a monthly one. Reassess and make necessary changes.
5.Take help: If you feel some one can give you that motivation and that direction do not feel shy. It will keep you motivated and focussed.
6.Empower: Give yourself the leverage, a chance to make faults. Things wont work out if you will be too harsh on yourself. Nourish your soul and spirit.
7.Stay happy and consistent: It takes time to change habits. If you really want to change and bring balance be slow and steady.
You will surely win the race.. never lose faith in yourself.