Often, the term “life balance” is used to describe an equal division of time split between career, family, friends, recreation and other responsibilities. Juggling our schedules with kids’ schedules. Juggling personal aspirations with family responsibilities. Meshing our career with family responsibilities. Throughout my life, I have strived for a sense of balance in all those areas. At some periods, I felt I mastered it, later to be frustrated because some event messed with my flow. I misunderstood what life balance meant. It is not a static point. I was striving for something that is unattainable.

Balance is never achieved because the world around us is always changing. Everything from the weather to schedules to jobs to family and to local, national and world events is constantly fluctuating. The effort in trying to reach what we might perceive is a static state, such as balance, is fruitless.

Consider life’s balance more like standing in yoga tree pose or standing on one leg on a foam cushion. The surface underneath the foot is malleable creating a shifting surface and our body and mind are adjusting to the surface to stay upright.

True balance is the awareness of the ever changing events in our lives and having the awareness to respond appropriately to those moments. The increased awareness helps us adjust our minds and actions to respond with good intention in the situation. This is balance.

Namaste,