What is balance?

I thought I would start with a post about what I'm actually meaning when I'm promoting this "balance" thing. Why I chose "balance" as the key for my approach.

When we consider balance, we think of standing on one foot, or walking a beam, or our bank accounts, those scales that represent the Libra star sign... when we consider life balance, people automatically go to the people we see on instagram with cups of herbal tea, happy kids at the beach, laptops in the cocktail bar and #balance #blessed on every post.

The truth is, balance is tricky (standing on one leg is tricky right?) And it doesn't mean everything is always rainbows and lollipops. Creating balance in your life means making time for the things you have to do, as well as the things you want to do. It means creating harmony between your responsibilities and finding time to do things that bring you pleasure, personal fulfillment, and rejuvenation. And it's the second part - the fun, personal fulfillment, restorative things that seem to always be last and hardest to do, when in actual fact, it's these things are easy and would make us be better able to do all the others stuff! We've all heard "you can't pour from an empty cup" - and it's true.

With the world as it is today, balance can be difficult. The glorification of "busy", "the grind", "hustling" and any number of other things that wear us out has made it hard for people to believe that, in actual fact, there are other ways to live. Many of us focus a huge amount of our time and energy on work. And then usually family (especially those with children or other caring responsibilities). There are many reasons we push so hard in these areas. Perhaps we want a bigger house, a new car. We want to show people that we are good, hardworking people and can go bigger and better. Maybe we think we will let people down if we don't do everything for everyone. Maybe we think people won't like or respect us if we stay in the same job and don't get a promotion, or that we won't be well thought of if we don't upgrade our cars. We don't want to say "no" to anything for fear of appearing lazy, uncommitted, a bad team player or friend... The things we tell ourselves based on what we have been conditioned to believe, and the "all or nothing" mentality and methods we have been led to believe we need to get where we want to be, are the main reason for the un-balance most of us experience.

So, the first step to finding balance is to look inside and decide what you really want and need. And I mean REALLY want and need. Not what society says you "should" have or be, but what you feel, deep in your soul, will give you a meaningful life.

I could go on, but I won't. I will leave you with something many have seen in various shares and memes on emails and social media, and a concept I have personally witnessed on numerous occasions, and I truly believe has been a massive influence in my own life changes.

When you get old, what memories will you be looking back on? When you are dying, what will you be thinking about the life you have lived? What will you remember most about your life, and what will those you love remember most about you and how you lived?