Is your life in balance? (Are you kidding?!)

Let’s talk about it.

First, balance is like humility.  Once you think you have it, it’s gone!  Think of performers you’ve seen: Cirque du Soleil, America’s Got Talent, ice skaters and the like.  They start off in balance (hopefully!).  But they have to continually adjust.  Having your life, marriage, family, work, and ministry in balance is not automatic, and every change requires adjustment!

Second, the performers mentioned above have a purpose for their balance.  It may be for that next paycheck, or recognition, or a gold medal; but it’s a purpose that motivates them for at least that one performance.

Life coaches encourage us to identify a life purpose, then to break that down into actionable and measurable long term, intermediate, and short term goals.  You have sets of these for every key area (again, yourself, marriage, family, work, etc.) and refer to them on a regular basis.  Part of being in balance includes “de-conflicting” those priorities.  But at least thinking them through and writing them down helps keep any area from drifting too far off course.

But for now, here are a couple of thoughts to consider.  I hope you’ll respond back and add more:

• Not everything is a “10” – Don’t swat a Georgia gnat with a sledgehammer
• Sometimes, you are the top priority!  This isn’t license for irresponsibility, but like they say on airline flights, “If the oxygen mask drops down because of loss of cabin pressure, put your own mask on first!”  That’s not selfish.  It’s because if you become unconscious, you’re no help to anyone!  So – sometimes you need to get that nap.  Sometimes you and your spouse need to call a sitter and take a break together to strengthen your own relationship.  You’ve heard all this before.  Do it.
• Life is like a three-legged stool.  I often used this illustration when I served in a radio ministry:  Ministry, Methods, and Motives.  All three had to be in balance, or the stool is unstable and leads to a fall.  You can use the same concept in many ways.
• Persevere or Quit?  This one’s not so easy.  On the one hand, there’s the wise quote by Albert Einstein.  He defined insanity as, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”   However, Edison would say, “I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  Sometimes we need to pray for wisdom to know which is which.

I remember when we moved out in the country, there was a great idea about getting goats so I wouldn’t have to mow and weed part of our property.  No, we’d never had goats.  No one on either side of our families had ever had goats.  I wish we hadn’t had goats!  Eventually, after exorbitant effort to build a fence, then an electric fence, then multiple repairs… Well, they got away one last time, and that was that.  I think they’re still laughing.  I’d say that particular experience was closer to Einstein’s definition.

 What are your thoughts on balance?  Love to hear from you!

Regards,

Bill