Mar 10

Feeling Off-Balance?

Many people are searching for greater life balance.  Is “balance” achievable?   The answer depends on how you define balance.

Often we are feeling off-balance because our definition of balance is based on external measurements and not on our own sense of internal alignment.  For some balance may mean spending 50% of your time in your professional role and 50% of your time in personal role.  For others balance is consciously being 100% present in the moment  regardless of how their time is split – when I am at work I am 100% present for my job/clients and when I am at home I am 100% present for my partner/kids.  The again for others it could mean an inner sense of alignment at a given point in time.

The key to achieving balance is creating a clear definition of balance for YOU based on what fits your life, your schedule, your environment, and most importantly your inner sense of peace. 

To begin to create a sense of balance in your life:

1. First, define what balance means to you.  Is it a measure of time or a matter of presence?  Is it being true to a schedule or being true to the spontaneous nature of you?  Is it results based or people based?
2. Determine the roles you play in life then using your definition of balance rate yourself in each area on a scale of 0-10 (0 being completely out of balance, 10 being balanced as you define it.)   Use the Wheel of Life as a reference.
3. Look at each area compared to the other.  On the wheel it easy to see where you are lopsided or maybe you are evenly low in all areas.  Can you run a car efficiently if some of the tires have air and others don’t?  Even more dangerous should you operate a car if all the tires are low?  You can not run efficiently if you are neglecting key areas of your life.
4. Look at each area individually:
   • In each area you scored yourself between 0-3, what would it take to make it a 5, 6 or 7?
   • In each area you scored yourself at 5, 6 or 7, what would it take to make it a 8, 9 or 10?
   • In each area you scored yourself at 8, 9, or 10 what are you doing successfully in this area you can apply to the other areas of your life?
5. Decide the areas where change is a MUST!  Don’t try to work on them all at once nor should you expect to go from 0, 1, 2, 3 to a 10 because it won’t be sustainable.  Start with one area and go from where you are to the next level and work your way up.
6. Where change is a MUST ask what could I do to improve this area?  Remember the question is NOT what “should I do” it’s “what can I do that will enhance my life experience and provide greater balance?”
7. Monitor and measure your progress.  Repeat every 2-3 months.
8. Celebrate SUCCESS!!  Often overlooked is the celebration of progress/success.

This is your life, create balance your way then get in for the ride of your life as momentum carries you away!