“Don’t confuse symmetry with balance.”
― Tom Robbins
When you think about the word ‘Balance’. What’s the first thing that comes to mind?
You might think of a leveled scale, like the one that Justice holds or the lotus yoga pose… both are great examples of balance.
But when we’re talking about Life Balance, it’s not as straightforward. ‘Leveling the scale’ or achieving some kind of 50/50 at the end of the day doesn’t apply to the complexity of our lives. Every day, we’re balancing a whole array of different aspects - from health habits over mindset to workload and many more.
LIVING IN BALANCE DOESN’T OCCUR NATURALLY ANYMORE - WE HAVE TO RE-CREATE IT PURPOSEFULLY.
Therefore, I like to think about life balance as balancing stones. Each of us holds many stones, different in size and weight, and we’re trying to arrange them to achieve balance, even though they might not be symmetric or leveled. Still, all these ‘stones’ are interconnected and create their own synergy and symbiosis that we then call balance.
Unfortunately, due to society’s expectations and our many unconscious habits, most of us aren’t balanced anymore but operating on ‘auto-pilot,’ day in and day out.
BUT WHY DO WE NEED BALANCE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Balance is the foundation for health, well-being, and fulfillment in your life.
When you’re resting enough, you feel refreshed, focused, and motivated to take on the world. In contrast, with a lack of rest for a prolonged amount of time, health issues such as brain fog, weight gain or loss, and mood swings are just the tip of the iceberg.
The same goes for an imbalance in your personal and professional life, which leads to feelings of dissatisfaction and guilt and, depending on how strong the imbalance grows, can end in burnout, anxiety, or depression. Keeping a balance between personal and professional life energizes you and lowers your stress levels, and the sense of belonging linked to your social bonds positively influences your longevity.
The need for balance is universal; we all strive for a happy and fulfilled life. The secret behind why some of us achieve it, and others won’t lies in understanding and applying the transformative power of balance.