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Attaining and Maintaining Balance In Your Life
By: Susan Pazak, Ph.D.
Attaining and maintaining balance is the biggest challenge facing many people today. Everyday worries and concerns can tempt us to get out of balance. Balance is maintaining a consistent, healthy lifestyle on a daily basis in mind, body and spirit, regardless of your circumstances and situations.
A Balanced Mind
A balanced mind means awareness of our thoughts and the things that we choose to think about. Many people allow their mind to wander throughout the day. That is why we hear people say, "this day has passed by so quickly" or "where does the time go?" This is a hint that your thoughts are not in the moment and you are not enjoying your day. The goal is to enjoy each day as if it were your last. In order to reach this goal, your thoughts have to be oriented to the moment.
Yesterday is gone. There is nothing we can do to go back and change what has happened in the past. We can learn from our mistakes or remember happy or satisfying moments. Thoughts in the past can trigger depressive or sad feelings such as regret or guilt. To work through these feelings and let them go is the key to success. We can process these moments and then once and for all choose to forgive ourselves or someone else and enjoy our day. If we let our yesterdays impact our today in negative ways, we remain anchored to the past.
Another place that we allow our thoughts to wander is the future. These thoughts will cause feelings of anxiety, fear of the unknown and unnecessary pressure. Thoughts of the future, beyond planning and goal setting, can also steal your joy in the moment and knock you off balance. The reality is that we can only take steps toward our goals in the 14 to 16 hours that we are awake, one day at a time. Each day is a gift, which is why they call it the present, an old saying that makes a lot of sense! To attain and maintain balance in your mind, keep your thoughts focused on the present. Shifting your focus to the here and now is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress levels.
A Balanced Body
A balanced body involves exercise, food intake, sleep and an overall healthy lifestyle. Twenty to thirty minutes of exercise each day not only has many physical benefits, but also helps to balance your mind and spirit also. Exercise releases natural endorphins that help your body to relax and feel good. Walking continues to be one of the healthiest forms of exercise that you can do for your body.
Monitoring food intake and becoming aware of the types of food that your body needs and best responds to also helps you attain and maintain balance. An exercise coach/trainer or a nutritionist can help in determining what is right for your particular needs.
Another important element in maintaining body balance is getting 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep also is a part of balancing your thought process. Most people do not get enough sleep and therefore are unable to have daily balance or be as productive or effective to their full potential. An overall healthy lifestyle, meaning drinking plenty of water, limiting the intake of alcohol, avoiding smoking, and minimizing exposure to toxins or other chemicals will also be beneficial in having a balanced body.
A Balanced Spirit
Being balanced spiritually will increase your peace and joy in each day. A spiritual connection will decrease confusion and increase clarity when things just do not make sense in the world and no one person seems to have an answer. Many people’s guard goes up when I address spirituality because it is often confused with religion. Religion can be a part of an individual’s spirituality, however it is not necessary. A person can be spiritual, but not participate in an organized religion. Spirituality is a belief in a higher power, what I choose to believe is God. There is something greater that is in control and available for guidance, direction and support. There are books such as the Bible or the Koran that can give information on building a foundation for gaining morals and values about life and getting answers to often difficult concerns or dilemmas. To be able to say "Thy will be done," "Let go, let God," or "This to shall pass," or the Serenity Prayer (God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference) allows us to gain clarity in differentiating between what we can change and what things are out of our hands.
Many sources will state that each day we are to be at peace, free of anxiety, worries or fear. Taking on too much, wanting to be "in control," or feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders are signs of being out of balance spiritually. This will also impact your thinking and your emotional well-being, as well as body balance. A spiritual leader--a priest, rabbi, psychologist or self-help books-- will be able to assist you in finding your spiritual balance.
Begin right now adjusting your balance and experience life more fully!
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