Balance Part 2 (Day 113)

In order to understand when it's appropriate to toss this whole balance idea out the window, you first have to understand when balance really is needed and why.

Balance is a key part of how the universe works. Planet Earth is in perfect balance within the Sun's gravitational pull and that's what's keeping us all alive. A little lack of balance and we're either burning up or hurtling through space. Take a look around and you see just how necessary balance is to every part of life. Without it we fall over, plain and simple.

In our personal lives, balance is essential. If you don't balance things out, important things might get forgotten or left behind. If you're not being careful to balance your charity commitments, work, and family life, your children may go a few months without actually being able to have a conversation with you that doesn't center around your charity or work.

In my life, true balance means taking care of my husband, and taking care of the house, without leaving behind the need to take care of myself. For some reason, that's often difficult for me. I can do an excellent job of taking care of my husband and myself only to find that my house looks like I just had a birthday party for twelve toddlers. I've fallen over, and that fall causes me undo stress and starts to pick away at all the hard work I've put into taking care of my husband and myself.

There are some areas that just need balance all the time. Without these things in alignment, everything else falls apart. For example: If I ruin my marriage because my balance is missing and I'm failing to put effort into it, then my writing is useless. Just like we're all in trouble if the Earth one day becomes unbalanced in the Sun's orbit.

With that in mind we can understand why every psychologist and mental health advocate cries for balance as the chief need of the world. To an extent, they're absolutely right. No building stays standing without proper balance. It's the way the universe works, so why wouldn't that apply to our minds?

However...

As with all things, there is a point when focusing on balance too much can hold you back and set you up for failure.