Walking the Middle Path: If You Are Out of Balance in One Area of Your Life, You Are Out of Balance in Every Area. The human body, our mind and spirit all thrive when in balance. Therefore if any aspect of our lives is out of balance, we will begin to notice at first subtle indications that something is not quite right. If unaddressed, the scales tip further in the direction of imbalance and will eventually swing equally far in the other direction in order to maintain equilibrium. This can clearly be illustrated in the example of someone suffering from burnout or exhaustion. A person in this state will have pushed themselves much too far in terms of work and stress for a period just long enough to result in a dramatic swing of the pendulum in the other direction. This would be considered an extreme example and it is wise to not let things get to this point. Consequently, maintaining balance in all areas of our lives is a key practice for finding harmony and happiness in abundance. If you are not experiencing these qualities regularly, it is worth looking at your life to identify areas which may potentially be out of balance in some way. Suffice it to say, excessiveness in any area of our lives can prove to be unproductive if not damaging. Have you ever had a tendency to be excessive in some area of your life? If you are mindful you’ll notice that that excessiveness led to imbalance in other areas of your life. Life is energy flowing in certain directions, which we determine by means of our intentions and priorities. If we spread that energy out, allowing it to flow in too many directions at the same time, we become cause to our own effect of an imbalanced life. In other words, if your life is out of balance in one area it will be out of balance in other areas as well; it’s a domino affect. Many people direct their energy so excessively in one way, ignoring the many other aspects of their lives, that it ultimately catches up with them, making them emotionally unstable or ill. This is a universal principle with which we can all relate: Some people devote so much time to their work that they forget what it means to play, relax, and spend time with loved ones. Others play so much that they don’t know what it is to work. Some people seem to have total disregard for their body temple when it comes to diet and exercise, while others are so obsessed with their diets and bodies that they don’t know what it is to take a break and enjoy a day without beating themselves up physically or emotionally. And then there are those who are so “enthusiastic” about their spiritual practices that they don’t do anything else, while others could use a bit more spirituality in their daily lives. Do you see yourself in any part of this description of imbalance? If so, perhaps seeking the middle path is a practice you may want to explore. Perfect balance: It means not too much, not too little… in the middle is just right. Living a balanced life will produce a life of wholeness and deep inner peace. As a mindfulness practice, consider these six areas of your life as strings on an instrument you play daily: spirituality, physical health, emotional health, relationships, prosperity and job satisfaction, and free time and self-expression. Invest some time today in exploring which of these strings may be in need of tightening and which may need loosening. Make a commitment to fine tune your instrument on a daily basis — you’ll be amazed at how harmonious your life is when it is in perfect balance.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 02:51:08 +0000
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