The Mirror - Living in Balance
BALANCE - Zen practices recognizes the importance of balance within the universe and within the individual. To achieve balance, one must accept both the light and dark aspects of life. A stack of stones illustrates the realization that forces exist in harmony.
It is easy to live in a state of extremism. We find ourselves overcompensating for things or feelings we are not fully addressing. An “all or nothing” approach is an excellent example of the mindset we often adopt when approaching changes we want to address. I suggest abandoning that mindset and focusing on living in balance and moderation within the choices and decisions you face. Not only is balanced living a healthier approach, but it also invites the opportunity to question the "why" behind change motivation.
For most of my life, I lived in perceptual extremes, meaning that I am either all in or all out; I am either really relaxed or really stressed, and I am either euphoric or sad and down. I have a hard time living in balance with my own life. I find myself chasing the perpetual dream of what life could be like. I find myself shifting from one mindset to another without stopping to think about the choices I am making or what harm I may be doing to my body or my life. It is completely a life without balance.
Balance means putting yourself first. Most humans struggle with placing the needs and goals of others in front of their own. Although common, it often tips the scale toward living an unbalanced life. We work hard at jobs to provide food and shelter for ourselves and our families. We work long hours and often have busy personal schedules that overshadow time for ourselves. Let me tell you, YOU NEED TO COME FIRST. Any person who has ever been on a plane has heard the flight attendant say during their safety announcement that you SHOULD put your oxygen mask on FIRST before assisting others with their oxygen mask - Why? You cannot breathe properly. How can you safely assist others? The same goes for your life. One must take care of one's basic needs before helping others.
In conclusion, choosing to live your life in balance is essential. If you have poor diet habits and want to improve your physical health, balance your eating style. If you focus more on having a personal life outside of work, start setting professional boundaries like limiting how much work you take home or when you are on-call for your job, and commit to being home at a consistent time each day to balance your day. We must focus on one day at a time and balance our lives in small, incremental, and impactful ways.
Disclaimer:
The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professionals with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice based on information you have read here.
