B is for Balance

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Mr. Einstein explained a very crucial lesson of life in the simplest of words. However, it is one of the hardest things to achieve in this day and era.

Before we delve into deeper aspects of this very simple life fundamental, let me get this question out-of-the-way. What is Balance?

Of all the definitions I’ve read of the term, the one that most resonated with my perception was “a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”

Let’s face it. Life can be overwhelming at times and possesses a special knack for throwing even the toughest, the strongest of us off-balance. It’s in those moments we realise how much we take for granted.
From an ambitious, corporate minion to an over-exhausted mother, it’s been quite a journey for me too. From spending hours working on complex reports and Marimekkos, to spending sleepless nights as a new mommy, there have been plenty of times when I wanted to give up. However, that’s not always a choice that we have.

During my stint in the corporate world, I remember (with regret now) the countless hours I spent post work glued to my workstation. Home had become a bed and breakfast. Family had become mere acquaintances. Such was the fiery ambition in me to rise the ranks (which I did too). It took a couple of health setbacks to make me realise the more important things in life. All because I lacked the much talked about “work-life balance”.

Is a setback necessary for an epiphany to happen? Of course not.

So what kind of Balancing Act am referring to?

It is the Equilibrium, the state when one doesn’t feel torn or pushed or cornered in one direction. It is when one is able to devote as much energy, time or attention as is required without neglecting the other aspects of life.
The golden word is Balance. Something you have to find for yourself. Something even Google can’t help you with.

Set your priorities. The time you spent today is not going to come back. Ask yourself if it was well-spent. Know when to say No. You don’t have to take all the responsibilities. Assess your plate. Don’t let your responsibilities weigh you down. Take breaks. Be it professional or personal, time away from routine is healthy. Me-time and time spent rejuvenating is not a waste. It is, in fact, an investment into a happier tomorrow. A happy mind makes a happy home. Know when to stop. Its often the most difficult yet rewarding step.

As Peter Latham once said “Fortunate, indeed, is the man who takes exactly the right measure of himself and holds a just balance between what he can acquire and what he can use.”

Balance = Equilibrium = Stability = Strength.

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