I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be balanced. The word itself keeps popping up in my life. It comes up in almost all of the personal readings I have, as well as within my family life. For some reason this one little word seems so difficult for me to blend into my field as well as into my life.
I understand the word. I understand the concept, but I just cannot seem to implement it into my life…correctly. Every time I think I have it mastered …BAM! I faced with the reality of something that I forgotten about, and realize my so-called “balance” was just a form of a refocus onto something else. I know I cannot be the only person out there that struggles with this…word…this..simple…concept.
I have found that, when I have had a problem conquering, or understanding something completely… sharing my process and journey through it can give others a different perspective on something they too may have been or are struggling with. Hence the blog on Balance…I started my look into what it means to be “balanced” by looking up the definition of the word at Dictionary.com and this is what I found.
bal·ance
1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
2. something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
After reading through the descriptions of the word, you can really see how big this word is. Balance affects all aspects of our lives and all of our energetic bodies as well.
- The Mental Body
- The Physical Body
- The Emotional Body
- The Spiritual Body
What I have come to realize is that finding balance isn’t about equally distributing all aspects of our life. It is about finding a balance among all the facets of your life that work for you. Being able to do this is the true beauty of balance.
Take the image of a balanced scale with a feather on one side and a rock on the other.
When we look at the picture we can’t help but wonder how it could even be possible…the weight is not evenly proportioned it doesn’t make sense.
But that is the beauty of Balance. What makes sense (or works) for one does not mean it will make sense or balance for another, it is an individual thing. In my life, I realize that what may feel like balance today could throw me out of balance tomorrow. The key to success is living in the moment and letting me be me.
I have come to the conclusion that flexibility should be added to the definition of the word balance. It may not fit in the dictionary sense…but being able to be flexible allows us to correct our balance as we feel it bobble out of focus. I used to attend hot yoga tow to three times a week for almost two years… I loved it. It was amazing! The key is being in the moment, within yourself. Mind, body,heart and spirit connection equalled true balance for me at that time. They did not hold equal parts to the equation however!
Lets look at the tightrope walker…as the tightrope begins to bounce or shake the man upon the rope must be able to steady themselves and be flexible to maintain his balance. He must also be alert, and aware of what he is doing at all times. Life is like that tight rope at times… Like my earlier blog about Love being like a garden, balance takes work and awareness.
I have noticed that sometimes when I am feeling slightly detached or “out” of balance it is because I have overly balanced things in my life (based off of someone elses ideal of being balanced). When I have really stop and taken a look at those situations (in an essence to become more engaged) I have realized that it is really not that I am disengaged or don’t care, it is that I am coming to it from a different perspective, one of neutrality. In this stance of neutrality, I am happy with either or whatever the outcome.
What I am finding is that complete balance (equal weight on all four tires) is not a good fit for me. I don’t feel I am really living, it pulls me too far out of the game. I need a bobble here and there, I need to feel like I am driving and not just on auto pilot. Figuring this out for myself was an important lesson. We all need to tap in and find what it means to be balanced to us. Often we cannot figure the perfect “balance” for ourselves until we actually begin to play with it a bit. This in itself can feel strange and be a tad scary.
I know, for me, my challenge is I am an all or nothing kinda gal. Frustrates me at times actually. I work on balancing all the time. I sometimes feel the more I work on it the more problems I cause it! HA! The good thing is I am aware of it. My intensity comes with passion. I am an extremely passionate person, in all aspects of the word! But with that intense passion comes the inability at times to multitask effectively. I can become blinded with an intense focused passion that I lose myself in my activities. I shut out everything and everyone else. This is good and bad. I can become overwhelmed with all that is around me as well, hearing everything and yet nothing…seeing everything and yet nothing.
I think this is part of my clairvoyance. Learning to close oneself off from the outside noise of it all is an important lesson early on in life. So I am grateful at the ability to do this however; for me it is has either been an on or off option in the past. What I am working on is creating my own dimmer switch.
To do this one needs to be flexible. You need to really look at your life and how you interact. How you respond and where you feel you lack attention. It is an intense process and like that garden I have mentioned before, it is hard work. But the rewards I believe will far surpass the trials and tribulations that can be involved along the way. The result will help create your own personal balance. The beauty in balance is harmony. To be in harmony with one’s self will give you such a beautiful perspective.
The key to finding balance in your life is learning the art of flexibility.
Namaste~