This week I’ve been reflecting on balance. What it means and how to achieve it in a way that feels natural and harmonious. Balance is an interesting idea. It might make us think of stability or harmony, structure or freedom. Each person’s definition is likely to be different as will their equilibrium point. How do we know what’s going to work for us? The truth is that life is a balancing act where everything is in constant motion. So how can we find balance? Between competing priorities and needs. Between what we want and what we need. Between what we know and what we feel. What does balance mean for you and how do you achieve it in your life and in your business? What choices are you making and how are they serving you right now? Whether you’re just launching a new business, thinking about starting or in a growth phase, understanding how to find balance for yourself is essential for building a business and a life that works for you.
“Freedom without discipline is foolish, discipline without freedom is insanity.” Ilona Mialik
How balanced is your life?
Balance can feel like an elusive concept. What does it mean to lead a well-balanced life? Balance is an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. When we see ‘balance’ as a noun, we believe it will bring stability to our lives. Balance is also a verb. It’s about bringing things into harmony. It’s not something that you get, but something that you do. Life is about continually juggling many balls in the air. Life balance is a mirage — the closer we think we are, the further away it seems. The paradox of balance is that, the more we pursue it, the more things seem to fall apart. Our worries make us worry more. The truth is that balance is not something we can get. It’s a state of mind. It’s the realization that life is not stable but in constant motion.
Balance has come up for me a lot this week. Having moved into a new apartment two weeks ago, I feel that in some ways, balance is returning to my life. But I’m noticing things that aren’t healthy creeping in. Contradictions that are making me confused. I’m busy but also bored. I’m restless but trying to settle. I’m lonely but interacting with plenty of people. I was recently interviewed for The Virtual Entrepreneur Summit, hosted by the fabulous Nikki Gagnon. It was a really great event with inspirational speakers, offering practical tips and tools and I was honoured to be a part of it. This week we held a virtual Speakers Panel and answered questions that had come up during the summit. One of the speakers was talking about balance. ‘It’s easy to crush it in one area of your life’ he said. ‘But being intentional about what you want across different areas of your life is much harder.’ His words served as a reminder that separating the different areas of our lives can cause more problems than it solves. Integrating everything we do and letting aspects of our lives feed off each other is much healthier, if we are intentional about how we choose to spend our time and energy.
Leading a well-balanced life requires us to let go of the illusion of control. Here are my Top 10 Tips for Finding Balance:-
🌟 Flexibility. Balance is not a destination but a constant journey. Don’t approach it with a perfectionist mentality. You’ll have out of balance days and that okay. Embrace the process and learn from it.
🌟 Be present. Balance is less about how we allocate our time and more about enjoying what we’re doing right now. No point in taking time off if you’re going to be worrying about what’s going on at work. Integrate your mind and body.
🌟 Integrate. It’s not just your mind and body you want to integrate but all aspects of your life. Instead of competing against each other, encourage the different parts of you to collaborate. Apply learnings across your life.
🌟 Flow. Allowing things to fall into place rather than trying to force them into a pre-defined structure will enable you to connect with the balance that exists in each of us. Let go of your need to be in control.
🌟 Expectations. Having unrealistic expectations make us lose balance. Be honest about your own expectations, especially of yourself. Look for evidence to back up the things you tell yourself.
🌟 Choices. Knowing what matters to you is very important. Say no to those things that don’t serve you. Be intentional about what you want and need. Stop blaming other people or the world, and start making choices.
🌟 Control. Sometimes we have to lose balance to find it and letting go is key to things falling into place. Take risks, try something different. Look for balance across time and space, rather than in every moment or aspect of your life.
🌟 Internal. Recognise that balance is not something that happens externally but something that exists in you. If something is bothering you, ask yourself why. Balance is a state of mind, not a productivity hack!
🌟 Reflection. Understanding yourself is key to finding balance. Allow yourself the time to reflect on what works and what doesn’t. Track your progress and make adjustments. Celebrate your successes and learn as you go.
🌟 Enjoy. Self care is not selfish. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself some love, focus on activities that make you feel wonderful. Learn to love the journey of understanding the balance you have within yourself.
It’s completely unrealistic to expect yourself to know everything or be able to do everything. Please be kind to yourself and if you’d like to talk through the choices you’re facing or any blockers in your business, let me know.
Lisa Zevi – February 2022