We’ve all heard the term “work/life balance.” But what if I told you that doesn’t exist, and balance isn’t even the goal?
Balance is a state of equilibrium, carrying a weight of equal parts, and leveled scales. The individual facets of our daily existence are never equal in time or investment. Even our priorities aren’t equally weighted in importance.
Seven facets of overall being exist: work/career and life, intimacy and love, family and friends, personal development, physical self, and higher purpose/spirituality and lifestyle. Based on our priorities, some facets will undoubtedly outweigh others, and the scales will always be tipping. In other words, life-balance isn’t referring to the equality of our life facets, or a work/life balance, but refers to living in a state of aligned harmony.
What is the method to achieving aligned harmony?
Within each of our facets we have goals: personal aspirations, a desired identity, and promises made. You may want a promotion at work or to practice patience with your children. Whatever the desired result is, each of these aspirations require daily attention and action to achieve them.
The path to inner harmony is paved with our daily decisions.
We also have an identity to manage. Our identity embodies the labels we place on ourselves. Some labels we take pride in while disliking others and want to change or even attain new labels. You may identify as a hard worker or a loving spouse. To live aligned, we need to nurture these labels. This goes for the labels you want to change or attain as well. In order to create harmony, you need to take action. Perhaps you want to be a reader; you buy the books, but they sit on your shelf collecting dust. This inaction toward your desired identity will cause you to become misaligned. To achieve balance, you either need to set aside time to read, or come to terms that “reader” is not who you are.
Who you want to be should align with who you are.
Each of our personal aspirations and desired identities hold promises we’ve made to ourselves and our loved ones. These promises also require action in order to stay aligned. If your long-term goal is to be healthy and each morning, you promise yourself, ”Today’s the day I start moving my body.” To maintain inner peace, you need to keep that promise and get moving.
We are the product of our daily decisions and if they misalign with our desires, unhappiness, discontent, and miserableness thrive and our lives fall out of balance. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how we choose to use them determines how satisfied we feel when we turn out the lights at night. Have we moved the needle forward on our life’s purpose or goals? Have we nurtured our priorities and desired identities? Have we taken action and kept our promises? In this regard, we are very much in control of our own optimism, happiness, and life balance.
You may want to audit your hours and how you use them, as well as take inventory of the daily choices you’re making and how they align with your goals. If you find your scales tipping due to inaction, make the necessary adjustments.
The secret or method to a balanced life is to never stop making adjustments and improvements on your actions toward your goals. Each day provides a new opportunity to align your scales.
Balance isn’t the goal, but the method itself. The scales that represent our priorities, personal aspirations, and desired identity should align with the method or daily actions we take to achieve them. This is where life-balance should occur.
Albert Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Making the right choices day after day, and moving closer to your goals will create a life of harmony and a balanced life journey.
Danielle Venticinque is a health and wellness guru, an author, and a momprenuer|CEO. Amid the 2020 pandemic, she founded Thrive Betterments (ThriveBetterments.com), personal growth jewelry and products. Her jewelry line was designed to empower women to establish six daily habits of prosperity and wellness, focusing on positive mindset and goal attainment. The betterment bracelets are a stylish, wearable progress report that cultivates accountability and self-management. Danielle thrives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
