Balance. Interesting word, right? The word “balance” itself isn’t balanced (seven letters), but it sure sounds that way, doesn’t it?
What do you think of when you read that word? Do you think of a seesaw? The scales of justice? Is your mind carried away to the philosophical swirling fish of the yin yang, or are you more spiritually inclined to think of your “core,” wherein resides a connection to a higher power?
There are so many ways to think of the word balance, but no matter what we believe about it, there’s a good chance that when we think of it, a sense of stability comes to mind. Equilibrium. Steadiness.
I made a radio appearance recently for my book, The Nobody Bible, and the topic of balance came up. The host mentioned that the word was not one she gravitated to. In her mind, the goal of life wasn’t so much to find balance, but flow. Now, in the book, I talk about yin yang as a powerful symbol of balance, and I stand by that. However, I also refer to the sense of “complement” it evokes, bringing to mind the idea of flow. The point is, no matter how you engage the word balance, the important thing is that you feel steady. You feel stable on the ground beneath you (or, the spirit within you). In that sense, then, balance isn’t standing to one side, hoping the world doesn’t move. It’s about embracing the lines of change and learning to flow.
It’s had to find a person who feels balanced at every moment. It’s rare to find a person who is in the flow all the time — nimble and on point in all situations. I don’t really consider balance a state of permanence in the process of personal growth or on the spiritual path. Rather, maintaining balance is a constant job. A journey. We need to be mindful of how the events of the day move us and shake us, so that we know which tools to apply to reset (meditation, kindness, forgiveness…).
With that sense of work in mind, here are 5 ways to find balance in your day — especially when you feel knocked off center.
- Breathe. If anxiety creeps up on you, and you feel like you want to collapse or crack, stop and take some deep, cleansing breaths. Feel the air flow into your body, then flow out again. Is it cool? Warm? Lungs fill. Lungs empty. Breath is core. Start there.
- Sit still. This, in a sense, is meditation. If you get a piece of difficult news or you have a stressful decision to make, and you’re feeling a bit knocked around, don’t act right away. Sit still. Relax. Do the breathing exercise we mentioned in number one. Unless there’s an emergency, try not to act in a state of imbalance. Take a few minutes to reflect first.
- Talk it out. Sometimes a sense of imbalance comes from the inability to see an issue from another perspective. If you are wrestling with something that’s throwing you off kilter, call a trusted friend or family member and get their perspective. You’d be amazed how well processing can work.
- Read wisdom. Pick up a book — the Tao Te Ching, the Bible, some other book that carries weight in your life — and read a few passages again. Then, read them again. Settle into words that can guide you, then look at the situation, or your life, anew.
- Move. Wait, in number two above, we said to sit still. Well, not every situation is the same. Sometimes it’s a lack of inactivity that throws us off. If that’s the case, put on your shoes and go for a walk. Or get the car and drive. Move. See something new and get a new view. Heck, combine two and five. Walk to a park, then sit on a bench! Do what you must.
With balance, don’t get hung up on the “right” way to get back to equilibrium. If you’re feeling off, assess the situation and pick a tool to help you get on track again.
How do you recover your balance? Let us know!
Join us on Facebook and Twitter , or join the conversation at our Facebook group!