I’ll be honest: I kind of hate the term “Life Balance.” What exactly does it mean, anyway? Does it mean that every aspect of your life is equal? That is has some magical proportion that never changes? That you’re “balanced” on the edge of a cliff, in danger of crashing to the bottom at many minute?
A pop-pyschology blog (which shall remain nameless) said this about life balance (I’m paraphrasing): Your life is in balance when you feel calm, cool, and collected all the time, able to handle life’s curve balls with ease. (Hello, pressure!)
That definition of Life Balance may hold true for a limited time in your life when everything goes as planned, and the status quo is safe and predictable. But the very nature of life if that it’s ever-changing. You constantly have to adjust.
Life Balance is a myth.
The truth is, life balance is a myth, no matter what the popular lifestyle blogs say. They try and convince us that it’s the magic formula for happiness, when too often pursuing this mythical state brings stress, guilt and shame instead. We feel the pressure to “have it all,” then feel crappy about ourselves when we can’t figure out how to make that happen. We feel guilty when we spend time at work, knowing that we “should” be with the kids instead. Then we feel anxious at our kid’s soccer game, knowing there’s work to be done.
We all have many different roles and responsibilities in life. And no matter what we do, there’s an “opportunity cost” – something that doesn’t get done at the same time. So where do you set the boundaries? I think a much better way to think about it is spinning plates. For a full explanation of the Spinning Plates Theory, read my guest post on FitFamiliesPhoenix.com. (By the way, this way of looking at things is a lot more achievable and forgiving.)
When Life’s “Curve Balls” are More Like a Tidal Wave
Life shouldn’t be chaotic all the time. But, quite honestly, there are seasons when all you can do is hang on for the ride and hope it’s over soon. Sometimes, the spinning plates will come crashing down. (That’s a part of balance, too – good and bad, ups and downs, success and failure.) When that happens, you pick up the pieces when the dust settles and find your “new normal.” Anyone who’s been through a traumatic event in their lives will tell you that’s all you can do sometimes.
Two people very close to me have lost their spouses within the last year. Do they have “Life Balance” right now? Heck no. They’re just trying to find their footing in a world that no longer makes sense. Their version of “Life Balance” is getting out of bed every day and remembering to breathe.
No matter what season of life you’re in, you can find harmony, if not balance. The key is to live in Alignment. I’ll talk more about that in my next post. Stay tuned!
(Don’t want to wait? Purchase your Life Alignment Assessment for just $27 and get the 411 now!)
Have you ever felt stress, anxiety, or shame when trying to “have it all,” or achieve “Life Balance?” What tips and strategies do you use to give each area of your life the attention it deserves? Have the spinning plates ever come crashing down around you? Leave a comment below.
1 Response to "Is life balance even possible?"
[…] In my last post, I talked about how finding balance in life is often an impossible task, because we think about it the wrong way. How the reality is more like spinning plates, giving each role and responsibility the attention it needs in due time. How sometimes, the plates will all come crashing down, despite your best efforts. How that’s a part of Balance as well. Read the full post here. […]