Friday, October 17, 2008

Elusive Life Balance


The present transitions in my life have inspired me to reveal what my internal motivational coach is prodding in a self-talk of sorts. Honestly, I am struggling. I feel like my life is out of balance, and I am not focused on moving beyond where I do not want to be and moving forward in the direction that I chose to go. And this is more related to my life at home than it is with my job, but career consists of all of the facets of one’s life and is not limited to paid occupations.

For one, I have found myself too busy to be the loyal blogger that I set out to be, and yet I know I have the kind of ideas that potentially can inspire others daily. Why have I not found the time to dedicate myself to this enjoyment? Whenever my life becomes more of what I feel I have to do and less of what I want to do, I try to reassess what I am doing and regain the balance that I have somehow relinquished.

What gives you energy? What drives you? How much of your waking hours are you doing such things? Ideally, whether your quest is for any combination of fulfillment, enjoyment, actualization, meaning, productivity, or leaving behind a legacy, the goal is to have this vitality in the largest proportion possible. This vitality for you might be only one thing, or a fine mix of many things. For some, it is recreational fun, for others it is excelling in a gift or talent, or perhaps it is the satisfaction of making a difference.

The trick of life balance is to take a moment to analyze how you are spending each day. Are you doing what you want to do with your life? If not, are you taking risks and making sacrifices that will help you grow and develop in a way that will ultimately get you there? If your life is anything otherwise, it is time for you to challenge yourself. Take a risk. Be courageous. Persevere through adversity. Dream and take charge.

Think life as similar to the journey of the tightrope walker. Even if the path of life were as linear and tight as a tightrope, one must constantly adjust their balance bar to successfully get anywhere. Add in the chaos and curves that reality throws in, and realize that the “balance” in life is the result of vigilant efforts to constantly adjust without ever hesitating too long when the feeling of falling seems to overwhelm. Instead, maintain your composure when you otherwise feel you might lose your step. Move forward, onward, above, and beyond. With the right balance, you can go far and do amazing things.

1 comment:

lehcyfer said...

I've found the key lies in living with discipline. And discipline is not ascetic denial but doing exactly what you have to do at the given moment.

The thing that needs most to be done is the thing that you despise the most, the thing that makes you sick just when you think that you have to do it.

To avoid doing it we do all kinds of things and make all kinds of excuses. Yet, when you get yourself together and make this despised thing, suddenly you feel great, you feel happy, you feel as being on track with your life, being in control of yourself. Whereas when you do the other things or procrastinate in some other way, your life gets soaked with dread and remorse.

Several times a day, at random, stop for a moment and ask yourself "Am I doing what I have to do or what I'm doing is an excuse to not do something I despise?" Then do what you have to do, and I mean - really put yourself to it put everything into it and commit yourself fully. The results will astonish you.

Doing the right things will balance your life as a byproduct, and you will feel excitement and fullness of life.

Leszek Cyfer
Poland