Find Your Perfect Balance

See Saw in Balance by Fatfatin, Dreamstime

Balance – it’s a word I’ve been thinking about a lot recently.  Specifically what a balanced life looks like to me.  The dictionary has many definitions for this word including “a state of equilibrium or equipoise.”  This definition is what most people would consider a good explanation of the word.

The dictionary also describes it as “the power or ability to decide” and “the imaginary scales of fortune or fate” among others.  I think everyone has to decide for themselves what makes their life perfectly balanced, and come up with their own unique blueprint for a balanced, fulfilled life. 

This is a process that I’ve been working on for quite a while, and I’ve experimented with different ideas and processes.  In order to be truly content, happy, fulfilled, and live a life in balance, I believe it is necessary to find out and be aware of what you need in four different areas:  physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  Next it is important to set about doing those things that bring you the balance you desire in each area. Sounds simple enough, but it is actually quite a lot of work.

Balancing Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Realms

“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us.  If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.”  ~  Euripides, Greek Playwright

Happiness due to balance in these four life areas doesn’t just magically happen.  You have to gain clarity, examine your true desires, acknowledge what is important, and set about bringing your ideal life to fruition.  Coaching is a great tool to accomplish this.  After much personal seeking, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that I’m more of an “Eat, Pray, Love” kinda gal myself!  I too want to live life immersed in the world and enjoy all it has to offer, but I also want a deep connection with the divine.

Solar Plexus or Manipuraka Chakra

A good exercise to examine your true desires in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms is to get still and focus on the area just above your navel center (solar plexus or manipuraka chakra).  Then think about what would bring you true fulfillment in each area.  This center controls your sense of identity, personal power, and helps you choose what and who are for your highest good.

Ambika Wauters, author of The Book of Chakras says “Freedom of choice is the ultimate determination of the Solar Plexus Chakra.  The choice to be ourselves, to choose love, respect, and kindness, and to do what we know is right is something that every generation has sacrificed to maintain.  We make good decisions for ourselves when we know our worth, have a sense of pride in our efforts, and feel confident in our abilities.”  We need to have a healthy dose of self esteem in order to make good decisions for ourselves!

Wauters also comments on how the manipuraka chakra is connected with the heart center.  If you have a strong, healthy energy in your solar plexus (manipuraka chakra) area, it should correspondingly affect the energy in your heart center.  She states “The Solar Plexus Chakra extends into the realms of the heart.  It influences the way we respond to situations through compassion and love.  It is especially connected to the heart by how strongly we love and value ourselves.  If we are disconnected from our heart we run the risk of becoming manipulative, exploitative, and egotistical.  Keeping checks on the ego so that it is connected to the self is both healthy and mature.”

List What Makes You Balanced

“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.”  ~  Elizabeth Gilbert, Author

After you get still and focus on the solar plexus area and listen to your gut instincts, it is a good idea to write down your impressions.  When you see your true desires written down it is more a lot more concrete, and you can plan to take baby steps to move in that direction.  You can empower yourself even further by reading the list aloud to yourself.  You could also make some of the desires into positive affirmations to help aid manifestation.  A list might look like the following:  

Physical

• A regular yoga practice
• A healthy, balanced diet, with mostly home cooked meals
• A comfortable home
• Balancing female and male energies in my body temple

Mental

• A regular meditation practice
• Practice remaining centered as much as possible
• Journaling
• Self-reflection

Emotional

• Being compassionate with others and myself
• Healthy self esteem
• An open heart
• Embracing my true desires

Spiritual

• Be creative in all aspects of my life
• Meditation and yoga
• Radiate divine qualities as much as possible
• Coaching and Support

Getting Off-Balance to Achieve Balance

“The truth is balance.  However the opposite of truth, which is unbalance, may not be a lie.”  ~  Susan Sontag, Author

Although the ultimate goal is a life in balance, sometimes to get there you may first need to get off balance to achieve this.  Think of all the great spiritual disciplines – they usually involve some type of “dark night of the soul” prior to finding peace and fulfillment.  I’ve also heard it said that in order to taste the nectar you must first taste the poison.  Think of falling in love – people usually describe you as “out of your mind”.  Even when you get preoccupied with a creative project, you might become a bit obsessed with it.  Maybe this intense passion is a necessary energy required to complete the project.

Discover Your True Desires and Be Balanced

Develop a strong sense of self (without becoming an egomaniac) and have a healthy manipuraka chakra.  Clarify your true desires by going within, and consider hiring a life coach to help support you with the process of finding and achieving your perfect balance.  Enjoy the sense of ease, flow, and fulfillment that results!

What are your true desires?

How would you define “perfect balance”?

Resources:

Books:

“The Book of Chakras” by Ambika Wauters

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