Ana, our gusty goddess from the southeast, appears to have had a change of heart, of course; as she is swinging underneath the island chain. Perhaps she received some needed ho`oponopono with her father, Kanaloa, the god of the sea; and her mother, Nature, the goddess of the earth. Or maybe those vibrating tremors, from the gently quaking fault currents, massaged her into sensual release. Either way, this early morning we are blessed with sweet rains and gentle winds, with smiling flowers, herbs, and fruit trees; as what seemed to be her rage could be her Mom’s pole fusion. And The lava has stopped flowing, hole reclusion.During their exit interviews, Harvard graduates have consistently identified Life Balance as the single most important post-graduation goal. As with nutritional philosophies, when it comes to Life Balancing, there are as many opinions as assholes. But some of them, especially if based on research, clinical practice, and personal experience; must hold some merit, right? You know what I mean, “Eat carbs!” “Don’t eat carbs!” “”Wine is the elixir of life!” “Wine is cancer in a bottle!” “Your body, especially certain blood types, needs animal protein!” “Eating meat is bad for you!” In that tiny little, rarely accessed corner of space known as reality, it usually comes down to moderation, or balance; along with the varying and unique needs of each individual. Balancing our overall needs is the key. Flowers need earth, sunshine, water, fertilizer, and love; but the specific amounts vary widely within and between species. Our bodies typically crave the things they need, drawing us toward them like a mystical magnet. For millennia this has been observed and known. It is up to us to understand and balance our lives. What someone else recommends may simply be what works for them. So if you are Barbie, then develop the Barbie Balance.
Balance can be understood as the harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements of a whole producing a state of equilibrium pursuant to its priorities. To attain it, we must first identify these parts, then determine their order of importance, and finally invest in them in relation to their rank.
Ready: Parts of Life.
There is a rainbow radiantly existing as your spirit, sweetly shining through the eyes of your heart, brilliantly illuminating the corridors of your mind, and vibrantly beautifying the wonders of your body. ‘ Feel it’s glow? There are usually 5-10 main parts of life that we value, need, and desire. They represent the essence of who we are. In order to balance them, we must find them. Things like Relationship, Family, Career, Spirituality, Personal Growth, Exercise, Hobbies, Social Interest, Goal Attainment, Creative Expression, and the like. When you allow the iridescent prisms of your awakened consciousness to naturally highlight these interests, they will truly be the things you want and need. This is for you, and no one else, to conclude. My main parts of life are Relationship (marriage), Helping Others (healing work), Spirituality (study and growth), Health (exercise, meditation, nutrition), Writing (for fun and to help others), Music (soul language, writing, recording), Dobermans (magical creatures, best friends), Home Improvement/Maintenance (enjoyment, creative expression), Friendships (giving and receiving love), Happiness (finding joy and meaning in all things). What are yours?
Set: Order of Importance.
After identifying 5-10 main parts of life, organize them in a pie chart and rank them based on their true priority. If things change (e.g. if you break a leg), then your imperatives may temporarily shift until you get back on your feet again.
Go: Dynamically Balancing Life.
Once you have selected, ranked, and plugged your preponderant preferences into a desirable diagram; begin assessing the degree to which your expenditure of time, energy, and focus matches up. Each week, preferably on the weekend, review your progress from the previous week, and make adjustments for the next one to improve. When you realize you are putting too much in one area, and not enough in another; just shift your focus to better balance without delay (like shifting your focus back to your breath when distracted during a breathing meditation). Do this without criticism, judgement, or dismay.
Photo Credit: Calico
This was more challenging that I thought initially it would be. Feel like my life is out of balance so this is a helpful exercise. It was a bit sobering to realize that after 8 hours of restful sleep, 8 hours of work and 2 hours of healthy food (shopping, preparation, eating & clean-up) that I only have limited time for all the other things I value like friends, family, creating & spirituality. The weekly review will help raise my consciousness and to make adjustments to have more time for the things that bring more joy in my life. Thank you!