Staying Centered and The Myth of a Balanced Life
Sisters. Magic Makers. Miracle Workers. Change Agents.
As powerful women committed to making an impact in the world, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, exhausted, and uninspired.
As mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends, we quickly put the needs of others above our own, or play into the story that we can do it all, be it all, and have it all … all by ourselves.
But really, who benefits from all of this sacrificing? Our families? Our friends? Our business?
I have a mantra that I adopted after a period of NOT having a balanced life and hitting a point of exhaustion. It came while I was talking to a group of my closest girlfriends who were seeing me in a totally drained and depleted state. I was told to ask myself the following question, every day, multiple times a day.
“What do I need to feel more nourished right now?”
I would ask myself that question over and over and then just do whatever came to my mind.
If the answer came back that I needed a little more sleep, I stayed in bed and rested.
If the answer was I needed to take a break and not be productive for a while, I did that.
The point was to reestablish a relationship with the wiser, more integrated part of me that always knows what will most help the entire system.
In addition, I started creating a regular meditation practice so that I start my day in a super high vibration, clean, and clear state. When I do that, I notice my decision making is affected and I can trust my desires from that place.
The Myth of a Balanced Life
Many women think about life in compartments mentioned by Giordana Toccaceli – business life, romantic relationship life, family life, community or social life, religious or spiritual life, etc.
If you are trying to figure out how to balance a complex equation of giving each compartment it’s due, then you are quickly going to find yourself back in overwhelm mode.
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.”
If you live in a fully integrated life, where there are no firm boundaries or distinctions, then every breath you breathe services them all because they are all you, you are aligned, and living purposefully and deliberately and every action services you in each area.
By eliminating the boxes in and around your life, you’ll find yourself in better flow, with more choices and opportunities than before.
I would love to know how you stay centered and what it means to you to live a balanced life. Leave me your thoughts in the comments below.
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