What knocks you out of balance?
What knocks you out of balance?
I am so excited about this week's podcast release - Episode 7 is live and I am speaking with the renowned Suyogi Gessner as we talk all things Healing with Ayurveda. Spoiler Alert: Suyogi also created a 3-Day Detox Program that you can download for free to get started on your own cleanse! (And in case you are wondering, yes, this is the same detox I referenced in last week's email) ;-) Tune in to this episode to get all the details!
Why Balance Matters
We all know that feeling of being out of balance – we may feel tired or sluggish, overwhelmed, stressed, or even out of sorts. We might not be taking care of ourselves well – neglecting healthy eating, exercise, or downtime.
In contrast, when we’re in balance, we feel it across every area of our life – we tend to feel healthier, less stressed, and more content. We have energy for the things that matter most to us, and find equilibrium across our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Whatever imbalance looks like for you – it can be hard to recognize the signs until you’re already too deep.
Defining Your Balance
First, let’s talk about what it means to be balanced in the first place. We’ll each have our own definition of what this means for us. Here’s an example:
Living in alignment with my values and integrity. Tuning into my body and emotions as guides to understand if I’m in or out of balance. Finding a positive rhythm between work, relationships, and activities I love. Nourishing my soul to start each day, however that looks for me. Recognizing life’s natural ebbs and flows, and that my aim isn’t perfection but rather fulfillment and joy right now. Taking time to reflect on achievements with pride and gratitude. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Being fully present in each moment. Overall, seeking equilibrium and contentment across all facets of life.
What does balance mean to you? Define it in your own words and reflect on why it matters.
Feeling Balance
Now that you’ve defined balance, think about how it feels when you achieve it. What emotions, physical sensations, or activities are present? Take a moment to vividly envision what life in balance looks like for you.
For me, I often feel a huge amount of gratitude towards myself, the world, the people who I love and who support me. I feel an explosion of love pouring out from me. I feel capable of doing anything and I offer my hand to support those I know who could use a little extra love or help in their life. I laugh a lot and make silly jokes to my husband. I dance with the cat in the living room. I go for walks in nature and marvel at the splendor of our natural world – admiring the beauty of every tree, every splash of water on my path. My cup runs over and I offer that cup to the world to drink from.
Signs of Imbalance
Now that we’ve got a better understanding of what it feels like to be in balance, we can start to consider what it means when we’re out of balance.
In contrast, when out of balance I may experience feeling tired – or even exhausted. I lack motivation to do even the smallest tasks, I find myself crawling under the covers in the middle of the day to take a nap or hide away from the world. Sometimes I feel agitated, spilling over with emotions with no outlet for where to express them. I feel burdened, overwhelmed by the number of people who seem to need my support. I feel resentful, angry, and often lack compassion. I feel anxious about committing to plans or people because I’m not sure I can bring myself back to center. I lack creativity and focus and feel overwhelmed by the smallest digression.
See how clearly defining and envisioning balance makes it easier to spot when you’re off track?
Triggers for Imbalance
Now that we understand what it feels like to be out of balance (ahem, it’s not great) we can consider what are the things that take us out of Eden.
Now let’s identify potential triggers that throw you off balance. These are highly personal and different for everyone. Some examples: a good friend of mine feels great when she’s learning difficult or downright challenging sports (kite surfing, anyone?) while I don’t mind laying at the sea’s edge or even diving under the water, there’s no chance you’ll hook me up to a kite to relax. I, on the other hand, feel good when I’m writing.
What knocks you out of alignment? Reflect on your own common triggers.
Here’s a short list of mine:
- Eating a lot of sugar or otherwise unhealthy food
- Not going into nature regularly
- Not sleeping well or long enough
- Not working out
- Starting the day on my phone
- Too many meetings in a day
- Showing up as the main support for friends, family, clients and not balancing my own need to release + re-energize
- Poor boundaries
- Procrastinating on daunting tasks
Course Correct
And now that you recognize what it feels like to be out of balance, and what it is that brings you into that state, you can come up with your own toolkit for how to come back to equilibrium. Yours will look different from mine, but here’s an idea of some of the activities / actions I undertake to come back to center when I’ve strayed.
For starters, I turn my phone off when I want to concentrate – and will often and put it in another room to avoid temptation. I limit my exposure to social media (by setting a time limit on my phone, or regularly reminding myself I don’t want to be on there). I go for walks in Hampstead Heath 3-4 times a week to get out into nature and clear my head.
Then I use some psych tricks to help me keep balance even when it might otherwise feel challenging to do so. I schedule my spin classes in advance so that it’s easier to stay on track and not dependent on who motivated I feel in the moment. I’ll good shop before I get hungry so I can eat healthier on average – rather than waiting until the moment I’m already hungry and any food will do (still working on this one!)
Let’s take a look at that again – how can you figure out what balance means for you and what steps can you take to come back into alignment when you’ve lost your sense of equilibrium. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to help you find your way back to balance.
4 Steps to Come Back to Balance
- Define Balance - What does it mean to you? How does it feel?
- Notice Imbalance - Spot the signs you’re off track.
- Identify Triggers - What causes you to lose balance?
- Course Correct - Take small actions to get realigned.
Ready for Your Own Version of Balance?
Balance isn’t a continuous state of being – though wouldn’t it be great if it was – but rather an idea of what overall health and well-being really looks like for us. The closer we get to experiencing that balance, the better we feel in multiple areas of our life. The further away we feel, the harder life feels and the further we can feel from reaching our goals.
Take time today to review your unique definition of balance. How aligned is your current life? Pick one priority area to focus on improving through a simple action plan. With small steps, you can steadily build greater equilibrium across all facets of life.
Hit reply and let me know what balance means for you!
With love,
Amanda
PLUS, Here's 3 Ways to Embark on Your Own Personal Awakening in 2024
- Learn about Healing with Aura Readings from the latest episode of Don't Step on the Bluebells!
- Want a guide to support you on your journey? That's what I do best.Schedule a call with me and let's talk about your dreams for the future.
- Download the Podsheets for each podcast episode! They are filled with key learnings, practices, and tools you can use at home to deepen your own spiritual practice!