Day Eleven: Balance

I went on a walk once about 7 years ago with a lifetime girlfriend of mine. During our walk, we were discussing our work/life balance. She made a statement that has stuck with me ever since. "I understand that work is a really, really important component for people. But, it's only one component in someone's life and for so many people, their entire identity is wrapped up in their job. They neglect their families, their friends, themselves..."

We chase something, and life passes us by. It could be a paycheck or a lifestyle. It might be the respect of our peers, a promotion, the gratitude of our boss...it's an issue when it absorbs time, energy, and priority from other important areas of our life that receive a deficit of attention. It throws us out of whack, and there are negative consequences for this.

Being healthy & happy is really about bringing ourselves back into a state of balance. When we haven't been getting enough physical activity, nutrients, and water, our body shows it. Our skin gets muddled, our muscles become flabby, we have indigestion, we have difficulty sleeping. Sometimes, we even begin to get sick - heart disease, onset diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome...

However, we can also overdue it in the other direction, too. Not only do we need cheat meals to make us feel like we're not deprived, we also need rest & repair days. Too many days of rigorous physical activity can lead to injury and fatigue.

So what is the right amount of work & play, exercise & rest? Our body, mind, and soul tell us...if we listen.

I challenge you to listen to your body, mind, and soul. You'll know when you haven't worked out enough...and you'll know when you're overdoing it. If things are stressing you out that absorb time, energy, or sleep, I challenge you to incorporate rest, relaxation, and time away from those things to bring yourself back into a state of balance.