The Balanced Life

Have you ever reached that point in your life that everything just seems to be a mess? You are struggling with everything you do and nothing seems to be working out right. You are concentrating on one aspect of your life and letting everything else go. When I was in college I remember studying so hard for finals that I would forget to eat and then my body would rebel by getting sick. I would look at my office and see papers strewn all over the place and finding ANYTHING was an impossibility.  I would forget to pay my due bills and would have bill collectors calling me at the most inopportune times. My clothes were all over the floor of the closet and finding something clean to wear was like looking for a needle in a haystack. My body hurt, my brain was fried, and my soul was crying out for relief! This is a classic example of being “out of balance” in life. The good news is; life does NOT have to be like that. I would like to share with you some tips to keep balance in your life. When you are feeling “not quite right”, you should take an inventory of what you have been doing recently. If you find that one aspect of your life is taking precedence, then start doing something else. This will create the balance that you need for the harmony, health, and happiness that is your birthright.

There are three main areas in a person’s existence. These are body, mind, and soul. Additionally, there are two others that are of equal importance. They must be included in the formula in order to achieve true balance. These are having fun and being financially stable. I will briefly discuss each category.

BODY

Having a fit body is not only esthetically pleasing; it also has a great effect on both your mind and your soul. If your body does not have the energy required to stimulate your brain, then you will not be able to accomplish even the simplest of tasks.There are three key elements to a fit body. These are sleep, proper diet, and exercise. It is important to get enough sleep, because during the sleep process your mind and body are rejuvenated. Every person is different in the number of hours required for sleep. Some gurus are said to never sleep; they just “rest”. Since you and I are not gurus, (otherwise we would already be in total balance) we must experiment with the amount of sleep we need.

Proper diet is a must for being fit. We have all heard the saying, “You are what you eat”. That could be scary, depending on your eating habits. The best nutrition habits are the simplest.  Just follow the basic four food groups with an emphasis on fruits and veges and de-emphasize the meat. Meat is harder to digest and makes you sluggish.Daily exercise is very important in the strategy of body balance. It not only makes you look good, but it stimulates the mind. Being active intensifies your energy level, which in turn stimulates the endorphins that make us feel great. Slow your day down and go for a walk. Or, for a more intense workout, you could either set up a home gym or join a health club.  I used to own a home-cleaning business, but as I got older it became too strenuous a workout for me. I did keep two clients and I clean their house every week. This not only keeps me in shape, but I get a workout that I get paid for!I know we all have very busy lives and sometimes we skip taking care of ourselves. This is a big mistake because the fitness of our body has a direct correlation to the fitness of both our mind and our soul. They must all be in balance for us to live fully and accomplish the goals that we and the Universe have set for us.

MIND

The mind is the most incredible thing in that what it can perceive, so can it achieve. You have the ability, through changing your perception of any given situation, to change not only your emotions, but also the situation!

Most everyone has heard of “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. It is based on the concept of the law of attraction. This states that what we think about the most will actually happen. For example, if we are worrying about having too many bills, that is exactly what we will get – MORE bills! If you are constantly thinking about what you would like in your life, you WILL manifest those exact things. The choice is yours. One of the ways that you can achieve balance of the mind is by self motivating. If you are going to wait around for others to motivate you, then I would say you have a long wait! Learn how to self motivate. The sense of accomplishment in your life will be greatly enhanced by learning how this very important concept works.Having your mind be in balance with the rest of your life can also be achieved through meditation. It is similar to strengthening your muscles through physical exercise. You can strengthen your mind by telling IT what to think about – not having it tell YOU what to think about.

As with all three areas in your life, meditation is directly linked to our third category, the Soul, which will be discussed next.

SOUL

This is a difficult topic to write about because everyone has a different concept of what the Soul is. There are as many explanations of Soul as there are religions. I don’t think there is any right or wrong answers to the questions of who or what your Higher Power is. I believe what is important is that we treat everyone as we want to be treated. Everything else is simply dogma.

Whatever your belief system entails, it is vital that you have balance in your life concerning Soul. You could have perfect health through a balanced body. You could have a very tame and balanced mind. But something would still be missing. There is a feeling of emptiness permeating your entire existence without balance of Soul.

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT

To achieve balance in your life, it is extremely important to lighten up and have fun every once in awhile. We can get so wrapped up in day to day living that we forget that there is a child in everyone just wanting to play. Set aside some time every day for fun. Do something that you would never think of doing when you are wearing your “adult hat.” If you feel uncomfortable, you can act like a child when you are alone. As time goes by you will become more accustomed to engaging in “fun” and because it makes you feel so good you won’t really care what others might think of your frivolity. Remember to work hard in your life but take time out for play.

FINANCIAL STABILITY. B

Although money is not everything in life, it is a means whereby you have the ability to get the things you want. Having enough financial wherewithals is important to the balance of your life. When you have to be concerned if you have enough to live the life you want, then you are out of balance. Decide how much money you need to accomplish your life’s mission and then go out and make it. It is important to enjoy your money-making endeavors. Life is too short to be stuck in a job where you spend the majority of your time looking at the clock and wishing you were somewhere else. Either change your perspective of your job situation or find another way to make money! Making money should be enjoyable. It should not be a chore that you detest doing. When you discover something that you enjoy doing AND it makes you money, you will have achieved balance in your financial life.

Hopefully you have enjoyed these tips on having a balanced life. Achieving contentment and happiness is an ongoing mission. It is not something that you suddenly achieve and then think that you have “arrived.” Maintaining balance is a life process. It might seem overwhelming at first, but just do one thing to benefit each area of your life per day. When you begin to feel out of balance, take stock of what you are spending your time doing. Chances are you are concentrating too much on one aspect of your life. Above all else, ENJOY your life. It is your birthright!

If you would like more information on The Balanced Life, visit my website at http://WheresMyGuru.com