Balance for Well-Being

Dear Coach,

During these past several months - years, really - it has felt like so many things are out of balance. Not just for me personally, but worldwide. Politically, socially, financially, environmentally, emotionally. It makes me wonder about the possibilities of achieving balance, both as an individual and collectively as humans.

It seems that the common denominator that emerges from imbalance is suffering. Starting with myself then affecting those around me and, later, spreading to the whole community. I’m not saying my lack of balance is the cause of worldwide imbalance but, when millions or billions of people are out of whack, the world metaphorically tilts.

Deep stuff. Any thoughts?

Signed,

Seeking Balance

Dear Seeking,

I agree. There are situations in which we, as individuals and as humans, have never achieved balance at all or have lost it completely. And yet, a successful life requires a balancing act; enjoying our food yet eating in a way that sustains our good health, spending within our financial limits yet not becoming miserly, being informed yet not allowing news and social media to overwhelm us, considering our friend’s point of view but holding firm to our fundamental values. I could go on and on.

A good place to begin is defining balance. In a word: equilibrium or a state in which opposing forces harmonize. When we’re in balance, we feel a sense of wholeness, calmness, and can acknowledge multiple viewpoints without feeling overwhelmed.

We all experience highs and lows, light and darkness, success and failure - times when we feel out of balance. We know joy because we’ve experienced sorrow. Balance is learning when to serve, and when to gratefully accept service.

I believe that balance is achieved when we consciously seek the middle by having empathy for others, analyzing alternate perspectives, looking for the good, showing gratitude. When we intentionally commit to seeking balance in our lives, we can improve our well-being and, at the same time, become the change we want to see in our world.

According to Dr. Kathleen Hall, author of “A Life in Balance: Nourishing the Four Roots of True Happiness” and founder of Mindful Living Network®, “We have overstretched our personal boundaries and forgotten that true happiness comes from living an authentic life fueled with a sense of purpose and balance.” I think Dr. Hall pretty well sums it up.

Mershon Niesner is a Certified Life Coach and author of “Mom’s Gone, Now What? Ten Steps to Help Daughters Move Forward After Mother Loss” which is available on Amazon; also, locally at Sunshine Booksellers and Keep In Touch. For more information visit www.mershonniesner.com. Email your coaching questions to askcoachmershon@gmail.com. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential.