Daily I run into someone talking about balance in one way or another. Sometimes it’s negative sometimes it’s positive. I hear it from friends, random people, and clients. I’m no Guru when it comes to this topic, but I’ve been successful at having people understand, learn what it’s about, and how to reach it.
People strive to find balance in their lives, but struggle with it. They hear that when you’re balanced you’ll be happy…when you’re balanced good things start happening…but, How does one find balance? What is balance?
- a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
- something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
- mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.
For one to achieve balance in life they must be in a healthy place mentally, physically, and emotionally. Is anyone ever capable of being healthy in all these areas at once??? The answer is YES!! Everyone’s perception of healthy is different. What’s important in finding a healthy balance is to feel good in all these aspects of life. Does it have to be perfect? NO! If it were PERFECT you wouldn’t be balanced. Perfection doesn’t exist.
Mental Balance: It all begins here! Our thoughts can make us or break us. What are you thinking about? What are you telling yourself on a daily basis? Is it rational and real? Or are you making things up? Are you creating unrealistic expectations? When you THINK negatively…you FEEL negatively…you BEHAVE negatively. This will throw off your entire equilibrium and balance isn’t possible. The key here is to evaluate your thoughts.
Physical Balance: Now if you can’t find mental balance you may struggle in finding physical balance. If your thoughts aren’t positive you will lack motivation, desire, and energy. Without motivation and energy it’s difficult to take care of your body. In order to find physical balance you must move your body and take care of your body. What are you putting into your body? Water? Alcohol? Junk food? Healthy food? What is your body doing? Moving? Staying still? When your body is healthy you feel good about yourself and have a higher self confidence.
Emotional Balance: hmmm this one is difficult…think about it…not all emotions are positive. So to reach emotional balance must all our emotions be positive??? NO!! That’s impossible we are HUMAN!! We experience every emotion. Happiness, sadness, nervousness, fear, worry. In fact we probably experience about every single emotion in existence daily depending on what’s going on in life. To find emotional balance you must be aware. Be aware of every emotion you feel and understand why you feel it…know where it comes from…you must be able to experience, process, and move on. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in any emotion, especially if you don’t like the way it feels.
Have I experienced Chaos?? YES!! When I’m in a chaotic state my life is turned upside down. I can’t think, act, or make decisions. I don’t care about myself or my appearance. I gain TONS of weight, eat like a bottomless pit, drink excessively. I isolate myself, overthink, become depressed. Unproductive, and Unmotivated..is just not a good look on me!!
Have I experienced Balance? YES!! When I’m balanced I don’t allow things I can’t control to effect me, I talk to myself a lot(which totally helps), I take care of myself by working out, eating right, drinking water, limiting all the bad stuff I put into my body(I don’t give it up, but it’s limited), I allow myself to be aware of my thoughts and emotions and how they are linked to my behavior.
If I feel a negative emotion I call it out and ask myself Why are you feeling this way?? Is it worth the overthinking? Why are you causing yourself pain?? It this really necessary? Can I do anything about whatever caused the emotion? Can I change it? I remind myself “Jeanette you can’t change people or make people do things or expect that people know things!” That’s just ridiculous!! You’re not that powerful!! You’re just a counselor, a person…so why allow the thought that’s causing my unpleasant emotion to take control over my entire being???
So is balance possible?? YES it is! You just have to find the right fit for you. What’s right for me may not be right for you. Balance is achieved by trial and error. Where do you start?? Call Positive Soul Holistic Therapy we can guide you in your journey to a balanced positive life. You are capable of anything as long as you want it, and believe it. Set the goal and work towards it.