There Is No Such Thing As A Balanced Life

If you are a coach, a business person, a busy person, an overwhelmed person... you're probably seeking what the 'experts' call - balance.

While this sounds great, it's an unrealistic term that sets you up for failure.

I know I'll probably get a lot of heat from people out there (and especially coaches) because I should know better as I'm a coach, but I'm tired of hearing the word balance. Frankly, we use it too much and it only makes us feel worse about our lives.

Here are the fallacies with using the word - BALANCE:

1. What does balance mean to you? Here's where the first problem starts. Everyone's idea of balance is different, therefore a guru telling you what looks 'normal' in your life has no idea. They may work 60 hours a week and feel healthy, happy and secure. You may work 40 and think you're working too much because you have another job and six children.

2. Nothing in life is static: It's impossible to have a total balance in your life. Just when your finances are improving, your relationship with your significant other may be going through a challenge. You may have one area of your life shine, and another area needs work. As a coach, I work on all areas to improve them and while most areas may be great, life happens.

You may have everything appearing to be in balance and then you get laid off at work. Your finances, career, relationships may be great and then your father passes away. There is no permanent balance - life is constantly growing and changing. In fact, the universe is still continuing to expand.

Life is like that - unpredictable, uncontrollable...all you can do is control your beliefs and actions.

3. Being caught up in the word 'balance' can make you feel depressed, frustrated and downright miserable. As mentioned earlier, there will always be one area of your life that's weaker than the rest - if only for a short time. This word should only be used to mention credits and debits, scales, what's left of something or a weighing device.

4. Use a different word for your life: Instead of balance, you should be focusing on a word that mentions how you are constantly changing and growing to create the life and world you desire.

5. Be more accepting of life: We spend a lot of time fighting and complaining about our situation in life. In Buddhism, the teachings talk about accepting and making peace with your life, no matter how good or bad. This isn't easy, but a softer heart and lack of cynicism will make your life more enjoyable and you will have a chance to positively affect the lives of others.

6. It's about prioritizing: Forget balance, life is a smorgasbord of choices. It's about what you decide to believe in, who you hang out with, what you do for work, how you spend your time. If you're not sure what your priorities are, simply open your calendar and study the time and activities that fill your book. Is your time spent shopping, being with family, working, playing, creating, loving and making a difference?

As a last note to help you in 2008, skip the word balance, and go for passion!

Lisa Rickwood, BFA, CTACC, is an accomplished visual artist, small business owner and coach and author of Escape The Pace and co-author of Power & Soul.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, drowning in too many projects or suffering from techno-stress, Lisa can help.nnn n