Balance

As a life coach the term balance comes up often and it can be daunting to try and comprehend fully and to create for a client. Everyone’s idea of balance is different. I have said before that I do not believe in “work/life balance”. This phrase implies work is actually not apart of life! I highly disagree with that thought. I do like to say however that there is such a thing as work versus leisure balance. I want my clients to explain the picture they have when saying the word “Balance”.

Often the word “Balance” implies all kinds of imagery and it is often a view of a 50/50 scale. But real life is not a scale like this, it never sits this perfectly between all of the juggling we as humans do in this century. However, I also have stated I believe in an ordered life. so which is it? Saying “work life versus the home life” is also not an accurate way to phrase “A balanced Life”. This implies that home life isn’t work and it often is! So what is the alternative? How do we create order, peace, a system that works? In essence BALANCE!!!

Floating, and drifting isn’t a good tactic. It just means others then dictate life for you. How do you create order in a world that is out to steal your time, resources and energy? Creating peace and systems that aren’t ours but others or that drain your energy can be a balancing act all on its own and now, a lifestyle coach is saying Balance in this way isn’t even attainable!

I like to use a few strategizes and image shifts when talking to clients about balance and I would love to share them with you today!

First of all, I like to use the term, “Life aligned purposes!” Your home life, career and even hobbies need to have this phrase attached to them. So instead of “dividing” your time equally between different things you are designing a career and home that supports the fullness you desire out of life. The next thing I like to address is the word “Balance”. If you look up the word it seems to have an image of scales and keeping things in a steady state. Most people know that this is not life!

I don’t try and eradicate the word. I just needs a different definition. I have them take a look at the word from a different dictionary. The Ballet dictionary. I also make them watch a video. A dancers video, of the same word. Going back to my ballet roots. The word “balancé”  spelled the same way but pronounced [ba-lahn-SAY] actually means:

A rocking step, a down, up, down motion where weight shifts from one to another. It translates to “rocking” in French. It can be done forward, sideways, backwards and with different foot positions. It is usually a waltz rhythm.

Now this is what Balance is! When I talk about balance this is what I want them and you to think of. It’s an ebb and flow step. A waltzing thru life idea where you transfer smoothly and effortlessly from one side to another with all the different facet of a life well lived and aligned. It’s like a wave rolling back and forth, or a beautiful ballerina gracefully moving back and forth to the rhythm she hears. When you are visualizing this you are finally seeing balance the way it is meant to be. You can then create your life aligned list.

In this list you define what matters most. Create your optimal schedule as you maximize your peak performance and your down time. Learning to say “No” to things that are not in your aligned vision is easier when you know what your ultimate life goals are. You are also not so stringent on your musts because you know you can step back and forth of the flow of what fits for now. If it is a bit “Off” and you are leaning too far into one direction it’s easy to just waltz right back the other way because it’s a fluid movement and not a scale.

Practicing Balance in life becomes an entirely different thought when viewed from a ballet dancers eyes and I hope this idea encourages you to create a Life style of “ba-lahn-SAY” steps instead of a juggling act of spinning plates and even scales.

Things to help:

1. Practice your Balance every day! Do things that help you move back and forth between, work, home, play, rest. Maybe it’s setting alarms to reconnect with loved ones withe eye contact or turning of phones entirely for certain points of the day. Maybe it’s a walk in the sunshine, or some dedicated uninterrupted e-mail hours. Learning to dance the rhythm is the key to a truly balanced life.
2. Watch a demo video on the step balancé
3. The 7 dimensions of balance are a great Que. to create you life aligned list:

• Intellectual
• Physical
• Environmental
• Vocational
• Social
• Emotional
• Spiritual

Find out how you want to waltz thru these in your life and you are well on your way to finding the true meaning of balance.