“Observe and learn from nature how to balance opposing forces from within yourselves and in the world around us.”
– Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
This quote is one that has stuck with me throughout the week. I guess the reason is because I have always found nature to be a mystical and wondrous force; one full of chaos and yet it is so beautifully orchestrated. We can learn a lot from nature but only if we are willing to have an open mind, remain still and listen.
Oftentimes, in the natural world, when the scales begin to tip in one direction or another, mother nature has a way of returning back to a state of equilibrium – it continually works on creating and maintaining a balance. The key words in that last sentence are work and balance. It is important to recognize that achieving balance in your life requires you to work at it each and every day. Whether we are working on creating, restoring or maintaining our sense of balance, a consistent effort must be made, and being mindful about our thoughts and actions should be at the forefront of our efforts.
Growing up I remember one of the common phrases in our household was “too much of anything is never a good thing”. Now oftentimes this particular quote was referring to things like sugar, sweets and chips – but if we take a moment to reflect on the true meaning behind that statement, it really can be applied to any and all aspects of our lives. Think about it, too much work will cause you to burnout; too much change can fuel feelings of uncertainty and angst; too much time and investment in others, especially those who are not deserving, can cause feelings of insecurity and worthlessness; and too much time lost not communicating your feelings and needs can build up deep seated feelings of resentment.
We bear witness to a continuous and fluid relationship between instability and balance. Specifically in nature, we see this relationship repeat itself over and over and yet most times this amazing miracle is overlooked by the masses. This oversight in and of itself is one reason why we as human beings, the very products of mother nature ourselves, may be struggling to find the balance between our own lives, our own feelings and our own sense of who we are as a person. In defense of this oversight, we may begin to create reasons as to why we are so out of control. Maybe it’s the pressures of society, our family or our friends; or maybe you are just too busy, there is simply not enough time to make balance a priority. You may feel that the tragedies and traumas of life have left you with little energy to focus on the work that needs to be done within yourself. Whatever is holding you back from making the change and working on creating a healthier balance for yourself – accept it and then let it go.
When trying to create, regain or maintain a healthy balance in life , the key to your success will be your ability to accept what is; and by accepting what is, you open the door to finding your inner peace. Learning to accept your current circumstances will allow you to lessen your anxieties and strengthen your sense of control. It is through this process of acceptance that allows us then to take a step back, and make the necessary changes in order to restore balance in our lives.
Did you know, ironically enough, if you Google the meaning of the word balance, the first definition to appear is “an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady”. Take a moment and digest that sentence. Recognize that when we lack a healthy balance, we begin to experience underlying feelings of insecurity, maybe you begin to feel overwhelmed which might cause you to shut down. You may find yourself lacking patience to deal with friends, family or your coworkers in ways in which you once did – metaphorically, your imbalances are making it so you are unable to remain upright and steady.
Becoming mindful of the fact that your life currently lacks balance is the first step in working toward restoring your own internal equilibrium. By working towards creating balance in your life and accepting what is, you will find that those feelings of stress, anxiety, burnout – whatever mental discomforts you may be experiencing – begin to fade into the distant background. This is why it is imperative that we identify, internalize, and accept the specific aspects of our lives that we know need some work.
So if you are questioning how you can begin to make the change, here are five tips that you can practice in order to help jump start your journey as you work on creating and maintaining your balance:
- Accept your current circumstances. Accept what you can control and what you cannot.
- Create healthy boundaries for work, family and friends. Stick to them.
- Turn off your phone notifications.
- Work on getting comfortable saying “no” to things that do not resonate with you.
- Practice self reflection.
Remember everyone’s journey is different and what works for some may not work for all – the key is to try different techniques, find what works and make a point to stick with it. It has never been, nor will it ever be about achieving perfection – some days you will falter – don’t let those days turn into weeks. Instead, learn from your mistakes and make a conscious effort each day to stick to your boundaries and take ownership in creating a healthier, happier and more balanced lifestyle.
I promise you won’t regret it.
Cheers!
Mindful Mindset 