Our culture has taught us that focusing on ourselves is selfish. But if we never turn our awareness inward to reflect on our own thoughts, feelings, dreams and desires, then we will always be searching for someone else to solve our problems. Here are a few tips if you are ready to stand on your own two feet (or hands) and walk through the world with an unwavering sense of balance and grace.
1. Know your limitations
Before doing any kind of physical activity, the first thing we do is evaluate how our body feels and what we will need to be successful. If you are looking to build a more balanced lifestyle, the same kind of questions can apply.
Do we have any injuries or pain? / Do we have any past trauma or experiences that have caused the imbalance?
Will we need to bring a water bottle or wear a certain kind of clothing? / What tools do we already have that we know will help?
What modifications or adjustments can we make to the exercise if it becomes too difficult? / Are there other people or professionals who have the skills to support us along the way?
Asking these questions isn't easy, and it can be a deeply humbling experience.
2. Take responsibility for your relationships.
If you are feeling off balance, then you are already sensitive to the people around you and how they make you feel. But instead of seeing these people as the cause of your imbalance, try looking at them as characters in a play who are there to help you grow stronger and more resilient. Every person that shows up in your life is there to be your teacher. Sometimes, we have some pretty annoying teachers, yet there is always something to be learned.
In your personal and professional relationships, you have the choice: Will you let this person knock you down, or will you allow them make you more of the person you want to be?
3. Feel excited by the potential of your environment.
It can be difficult to break free from the feeling of being stuck and isolated. When you find yourself in a place that feels like it might be affecting you negatively, then take this as an opportunity to open up new doors, literally. Rearrange your home or work space with the intention of changing the energy to feel more inviting and balanced. Research some new coffee shops, bookstores, art galleries, or yoga studios in your area where you can ignite some new excitement and meet new people. When the weather permits, find any small patch of grass to stand with your bare feet and feel the sunshine on your face.
If your environment is stifling you, then take it upon yourself to make the changes you wish to see.
4. Take action that is authentic.
There are plenty of actions that will help us find a more honest alignment with ourselves. But before going through the checklist of "mindful activities to cultivate balance," take a moment to reflect on what it is that will help YOU. What are you curious about? What do you want to learn? What do you love creating? Who inspires you and how can you have a conversation with them?
Let your actions be creative. Let them come from your heart, knowing that whatever you do for yourself from this space is a valuable and essential part of living a healthy life.
5. Embrace imbalance.
We can put all the things in all the right places. We can have all the supportive people and be in the right place at the right time. But if we are not awake to the fact that true balance comes from within, then we will never find what it is we seek.
Nothing is ever perfectly in balance. Instead, everything in this world is in constant motion, dancing particles of light and matter, suspended for a momentary glimpse of balance. Only when we understand this truth will we ever create the effortlessly balanced life of our dreams!