Life's Balancing Act

Everyone wants to be happy! Yet, so few people are. We experience fleeting moments or hours of joy and fun, but truly feeling happy is a deeper peace, contentment and freedom within.  Attaining lasting happiness has been sought by humans since the beginning of time.

I’ve learned over time, that whatever we seek to attain, success will not come without discipline and balance.  If we think about it, we know it is true.  From the time we are born, each new lesson or mastery of a movement or task, came with practice and discipline. The rules of the universe dictate for example, that in order to grow a garden - the right soil, right amount of water, enough sunshine and vigilant care are required to have a good yield of fruits, vegetables or flowers. Ignore these necessities and the results will show the neglect.

Real discipline is an expression of respect for life and for yourself.  It is a dance of balance. We so often think of discipline as negative or punishment in some way.  Yet true discipline allows us to live what we believe.  What do I mean by this?  If I believe in being healthy and think it is important, am I making decisions that coincide with that belief?

Do I choose foods and beverages that will balance my mind and body?  
Do I eat at the optimal time for digestion?  
Do I have a positive and grateful attitude when I eat? 
Does my attitude put positive energy into the food as I enjoy it, allowing it to nourish me?
Do I make sleep a priority, as I know it is important for good health?
Do I exercise my body and mind regularly?
Do I live a full life that is also balancing for my mind, body and spirit?
Do I consciously choose healthy visual and auditory stimulation - movies, social media, music, books, television shows? (Visual and auditory stimulation is also digested.)
Do I provide relaxation and balancing activities for my eyes, body and mind compared with the amount of time spent in technology based activities?
Do I nourish and foster connections and relationships with others?
Do I balance the negative input of violence, anger, abuse, etc., often the themes of today’s technology and book offerings, with the positive input of kindness, compassion, love, generosity experienced in acts of giving and helping others?
Do I feed my spiritual soul with prayer and meditation?

Health is about finding balance between opposing forces.  Effort and rest - Elimination and assimilation - yin and yang - day and night.  Extreme action leads to death and so does extreme inaction.  Finding balance leads to health.

​Balance isn’t a destination, it is a moment-to-moment juggling between the opposing forces.  Some moments are better than others, but the beauty of it all is that we get to make a new choice in the next moment.  Here’s to more balancing moments!

May we each be blessed with good health, joy and true happiness!
Mary