health: Why life balance is not good for you
With all the demands that modern day life puts on the average person, life balance can seem as elusive as the Holy Grail.
There is a good reason for that — life balance is as elusive as the Holy Grail!
Balance is a state of equilibrium, mental steadiness or emotional stability, a habit of calm behavior. The sheer mention of the word balance can conjure up an image of a perfectly balanced life, like a Yogi sitting on a mountain side in pure bliss.
The truth is that it is just not possible to have a perfect state of equilibrium when living a full life.
It is this image of perfection the word "balance" conjures that makes life balance not good for you. Language is a very powerful way that people create their reality.
When the phrase "life balance" is used, most people unconsciously strive for perfection. They strive for equilibrium in all life areas, and this can become a set up for a perception of failure.
I like to try for "Saner Living" instead of "life balance." Saner Living is about making choices every day which brings you closer to a feeling of contentment.
For example, today I went for a walk between clients. I could have stayed in my office and worked because I have plenty of projects lined up, which feels stressful to me.
Walking the streets of Ann Arbor, I felt the warm sun high in a blue sky on a crisp spring day bake the stress out of me, talked about baseball's opening season with a homeless man selling the GroundUp newspaper on a street corner, and noticed sidewalk tables in front of restaurants, a sure sign of spring. I came back to work renewed and refreshed, ready to work smarter, not harder.
Is my life completely in balance? Nope, but it sure feels a lot saner after that walk.
The idea is to make small daily choices to keep your life saner. So, throw out the tired old phrase "life balance," and go for Saner Living. You will be glad you did!
What small daily choices can you make to bring Saner Living into your life? Let's get a dialogue going and help build a movement for Saner Living!
Comment below right now with your ideas for Saner Living. I can't wait to hear your great ideas!
Yay for sanity!
Saner Living is the new life balance.
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