Balancing Act

As a single parent of 2 teenage children, working a 9-5, owning a business, spending time with family, prayer time, gym time, reading time, blogging time, studying time, making sure the home is maintained and kept and don't forget time for my "oh so popping" social life (sarcasim intended) it doesn't come as a surprise that I often feel like I'm doing a balancing act!

It has become extremely important for me to learn to maintain balance in my life.  I have come to find when life seems out of control and I have endless demands tugging at me from all directions, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, fatigued - and just plain ole stressed out!

Believe it or not, balancing life doesnt require momumental changes. It's not necessary to cut things out.  You don't have to quit your job, abandon your family and escape to a desserted island in order to feel peaceful and happy. (althought at times I have wanted to do just that)  The truth of the matter is, true balance is something that starts within you first and foremost - no matter what else is happening in your outer life circumstances.  Starting off the day the right way is crucial.  Prioritzing, making lists, delegating, and setting boundaries are also extremely beneficial.  Here are a few other suggestions to maintaing balance in your life.

1) Shut Out the Noise!-

For those of you who don't know what that means; it's called "Quiet Time".  The first thing that we often tend to sacrifice when  life gets hectic is our personal time. Instead, we devote all of our energy and attention to caring for others, multi-tasking, meeting responsibilities and "being productive." Women in particular tend to be guilty of this.  The consequence of this is over time we become void of energy and we begin to feel more and more burdened by our responsibilities.

To live a more balanced life, quiet time by yourself is ESSENTIAL.  I know, someone reading this right now is saying, "when and where am I going to find a way to do that?".  The truth is, you may have a hard time believing that you have any time available for yourself.  I am encouraging you to make time!  It's amazing what happens when you consistently make time for yourself.  You will begin to find yourself feeling happier and more energetic, your focus improves, and you are more effective and present within your tasks.  Also, you may even find that you still have time to get plenty done.  Just a few minutes spent sitting quietly in prayer or meditation, quieting your mind or reading a book can do wonders in transforming stress into peace and happiness.

2) Do You! 

Beyond making time for things you enjoy, there are other ways to nurture and love yourself on a daily basis. Getting a full 8 hours of sleep (or as much as you personally need) is a great start, as well as eating nutritious food, exercising daily and speaking kindly to yourself.  I enjoy pampering myself with long hot bubble baths.  It may mean treating yourself to a manicure or pedicure. Pamper yourself.  Self Care is another very important aspect to finding balance in life.

Have you ever noticed that when you're really tired or stressed, even the smallest problem can seem like a major catastrophe? On the contrary, when you're well-rested and centered, you find you are better capable to take on challenges. Caring for yourself is one sure way to consistently replenish your energy, inner peace & joy.  This equips you with the strength to handle whatever comes your way.

3)  Become like a Palm Tree!

This past month we have had some really powerful wind and rain storms.  In the town where I live many trees snapped and fell into the streets, on homes,  on cars and in many backyards wreaking major damage. 

I was reminded this past Sunday that the Palm Tree in the Carribbean is a tree that can withstand extremely strong winds.  It's very limber and yielding by nature of it's composition.  Strong winds may blow and blow however, the palm tree bends but doesn't break.

Are you aware that one of the biggest causes of stress is rigid expectations? Just stop and let that marinate for a second.  We are all guilty of doing this from time to time; we have these mental pictures of how our lives "should be" - and get really annoyed when our outer circumstances don't match up.  One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is a flexible state of mind.  Simply learning how to detach from unrealistic expectations and go with the flow.

Once you have developed this, you've learned how to have a flexible mind-set and bend like a palm tree; you will find you are more capable to deal with crises and oppositions with greater ease.  You will no longer be working against a preconceived notion of how things "should be".  You will find you are able to tap into your creative problem-solving skills and take on the stresses of life without a lot of  frustration. Be like the palm tree that bends with the breeze - and you're much less likely to break!

These simple but powerful inner changes will make a world of difference in your state of well-being, but you may also want to examine your outer life circumstances to see if there are other small changes you can make to help support your inner work.  Remember it's all about balance.  We have to use wisdom.  If you do the inner work but continue to overbook yourself, fail to utilize good time management etc.,than more than likely you will continue to struggle with finding balance.


Practical Application:  This week take a close look at your life.  Examine what steps you can take to achieve more balance in your life. You might choose to let go of certain obligations that are no longer meaningful or enjoyable to you. Just because you agreed to sit on the board of a particular weekly group five years ago doesn't mean you have to keep doing it forever - especially if it's become a drain on your time and energy.  Grant yourself permission to let go of activities that no longer complement the lifestyle you desire,  Shut out the Noise, Do you, and Become Like a Palm Tree and you will create a space for greater fulfillment, joy, peace and balance!