Balancing the "Right" Way

What is balance? According to its definition it is an “even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady”, “elements are equal or correct proportions”. As women we work very hard to find balance within our relationships with family, friends and professional careers every day. The very thought of balancing our daily tasks with everything that we are expected to do can be a very daunting task. When we look closely at the definitions of balance it says to “remain upright and steady”.

In order to find balance we have to start with a strong foundation. Our foundations are built on our own morals, beliefs and customs that have helped to shape the context of how we live our lives and so this alone will look different for many of us. But, the one thing that remains constant is that balance is possible with the start of a firm foundation and then the equal distribution of weight or correct proportions. I know that for many of us that this is often not the case. We exist in a society in which we are called to wear many hats simultaneously such as wife, mom, teacher, nurturer, cook, chauffeur and many more. And, this is not always a problem, but it definitely shifts the weight or proportions of what we can balance when this happens.

So then we ask, how do we find balance? What are some key tips for finding balance? BALANCE; Breathe, Acceptance, Love, Allow, No, Cultivate, Evaluate.

B is for Breathe, it’s always good to take a deep breath and center yourself. Life can get very busy for us and it’s important to take a step back and breathe.

A is for Acceptance, this gives us power in knowing that our best is good enough. We often have high expectations of what we think things should look like or feel like, but forget to pat ourselves on the back for our successes.

L is for love, love yourself authentically through all of your mistakes and challenges. We can be our own worst critics but we can’t beat ourselves up for our mistakes because they come with lessons to learn. Also, allow yourself some grace because none of us are perfect.

N, is for No. Sometimes we have to know when it’s okay to simply say, No, “I can’t do this today” and be okay with that.

C, is for cultivate. It’s important to cultivate your support systems that help you to find balance throughout your days.

E, is for evaluation. Evaluate and adjust your priorities as needed. Some aspects of your life may require more attention than others and it is appropriate to adjust without guilt.

Managing life is a task all by itself, so don’t add extra pressure just set a firm foundation and build with balance.