In talking to one of my clients recently, the issue of balance came up. This made me think of my good friend, Suzie Doscher, and her book, Balance: It is Yours if You Want It.
I hope this helps you on your mission to achieve stability while reaching your goals!
Suzie Doscher, Executive and Life Coach – Zurich, Switzerland
The following is an excerpt from Balance: It is Yours if You Want It.
‘Balance’ is one of those buzzwords zooming around, and recently, it seems to have become synonymous with ‘mindfulness’ and/or ‘being your authentic self’.
I happen to still like the word ‘balance’ very much. The word ‘balance’ represents living from a place that allows you to feel your life not only has quality, but also that you are connected to your inner calm.
In my own life, one of the important realizations was that balance is possible and it was mine if I wanted it. What followed was a fair amount of self-reflection, openness, and honesty with myself.
Setting aside time to explore my definition of balance, by questioning what was missing and what I was already doing successfully, was time well spent.
Since then I have a good grasp on the various elements of day-to-day life. For me personally knowing my heart and mind are working together is what keeps me balanced. The sense of calm, of being grounded and clearheaded, motivates me to keep my life in balance.
Choosing to create balance will reflect in these six areas of your life:
- Physical
- Mental
- Emotional
- Social
- Financial
- Spiritual
Each one is important and will require consideration, attention, maintenance, or upgrading throughout your life. Not necessarily at the same time, or in equal amounts; nevertheless, all deserve attention.
It would be impossible and unrealistic to believe that each can have a “full service” all of the time. So, choose to focus on which area is being neglected the most at that time and see if it makes a difference. If you choose to socialize more but are not getting enough sleep, you might have chosen the wrong area to nurture. Choose your priorities carefully.
All elements are interrelated; balance will be present when all six are respected.
Most of us spend a large part of the day at work. Making sure the remaining hours offer some form of nurturing, reenergizing, is vital. There is a difference for single people versus married, with or without children, whether you travel, live internationally and interculturally, etc. Choose the area most in need of attention and nurturing.
The groundwork of living in balance is knowing yourself. For this it helps to be connected to your core values. Think of them as the “bricks in your foundation.” Reconnecting with your values and aligning your life with them is vital to finding balance.
Your values are what make you tick. They show you how to prioritize, what is important to you, what allows you to feel fulfilled. Examining my own core values, I realized how vital “open communication” and “nature” are to me. When both are present in my life I feel a sense of balance.
Six motivators to encourage you to achieve a more balanced life:
Emotional Strength: By gaining emotional strength, even on the bad days it is easier knowing what it will take to turn it around. This knowledge offers you a sense of grounding and balance. When you know yourself better you automatically know what has to be done.
Decreased Stress: Less stress offers time for more pleasure.
Physical Energy: Physical energy will return once you are prioritizing better, doing less, and nurturing your needs more successfully.
Sleep: Sleep – a better night’s rest. With a more balanced lifestyle, sound sleep is easier to find. Your mind will not keep you awake as often.
Compassion: Compassion and empathy will come more easily. With a more balanced life, you have more time to “feel” and “be” rather than only “think” and “do.”
Balance: A balanced person is a better person. People will be drawn to you because being in your company makes them feel good. A person who feels good about themselves and their life creates a lovely energy to be around.
The benefits of creating balance reach beyond you and your life; the people around you are positively impacted as well.
How does it sound to feel happier, wake up with energy, and plan your day realistically to achieve what you set out to do? There might be obstacles along the way, but when you are balanced your coping mechanisms kick in, you deal with the issue and get on with the day.
This work might feel repetitive, and this is because it is! Changing and reprogramming long-term behavior patterns require repetition and practice in order for them to be sustainable.
The decision is yours to make – You are the CEO of your life.
Everyone has their own definition of balance, just as each of us has our own definition of success and failure. It does not mean the same thing to everyone and the definition changes according to circumstances and age. Take a few minutes to think about what balance means to you and then dive in!