Balance and the Merry-GO-Round

work-life-balance

It’s so easy to get out of balance and perhaps many of us have never experienced it!  For many it may just be a concept as we smoke, drink, work too much, avoid too much or allow hate, lust or greed to drive us.  Ironically we chase all those diversions as an attempt to find happiness; then wonder why it eludes us.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony” – Thomas Merton

A few weeks ago I was really happy that I had managed to make some major life adjustments and maintain balance in my life.  Everything just sort of clicked and I could see how it all was going to work out.  I thought wow these are major changes but I can do this.  That’s such a great feeling; being in the ZONE……

I remember thinking at the time, make sure to keep doing all the things that put you in this great state.  Then slowly I was distracted.  Stuff from all directions came flying my way; loss of material possessions, upset children, mother called in for an emergency mammogram after being a cancer survivor, attacks that deeply hurt my 82 year old grandmother that lives with me, and challenges that I was told about in advance but didn’t realize the actual magnitude of the task at hand.  It all sort of came crashing over me within a one week time frame.

What I used to do is get really angry.  Anger is such a powerful drug; an escape; a way to feel large and in charge.  It’s twin is playing the victim.  I have noticed these are two extremes when we are out of balance; Angry “hell on wheels” or  “I’m a victim;” the world is out to get me act.

There is a balanced response.  Feel the feelings; which are often grounded in fear.  The fear for me is usually the same; am I going to be able to keep this pace and rise to the challenges life has presented?  Will I have enough energy?  Will I focus on what matters (the children, my marriage, my spiritual condition, my health) or get lost in my other addiction; work….  as an escape.

The feelings suck!  I like to be happy.  However, I have learned through the feelings is where happiness lives. Avoidance is what keeps me stuck; in a vicious cycle; spinning around; but never really making any progress.  So I feel those uncomfortable feelings out of necessity; rather than desire.  This realization gives me the strength to persevere; rather than break out in a bad case of the “FUC* IT’S”.

So what six simple tools help keep all of us in balance?
Eat Well.  Exercise.  Get enough sleep.  Have an Attitude of gratitude.   Be of service to others.   Be playful and laugh often.

Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals and values are in balance.” – Brian Tracy.

The solution sounds so simple; just six small things to act upon daily.  It’s anti-climatic really.  It’s so hard for my brain to grasp that such small things, practiced consistently, can actually lead to a balanced state and happiness! Yet it’s true.   When I do these things I feel like I’m on top of the world.  Then the world eats away at my resolve.  I drift back into old behaviors that don’t work.  Like a kid who jumps on the Merry-Go-Round and then gets mad because the horses don’t really go anywhere.  I jump on and off the Merry-Go-Round and it’s insane!

It’s also ironic that I find the energy to keep up the self limiting behaviors but the actions that would give me energy and help me succeed I use the excuse “I’m just too tired” to practice with any consistency!  What keeps you stuck?

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom” – Thomas Jefferson

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Charlie T.

    Another winning article. I admire your balance. You are a constant inspiration to your friends. Thank you.

    1. Larina Hintze

      Thank you Charlie. I feel like the elephant…. Big elephant life – tiny ball to balance it all on!

  2. Bill Green

    Best post so far! xo

  3. Nelson Logan

    Angry does create “drugs’ in us — and chronic angry is a habit — see attached.

    Nelson Logan, PhD Chair, Vistage Florida Chief Executives Working Together Better Decisions, Better Results

    “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them” – – Albert Einstein

    Executive Coach Education for Continuous Growth nelson.logan@icloud.com 352-384-9303 352-284-5425 (Cell) http://www.Vistageflorida.com http://www.vistage.com/videovault/

    1. Larina Hintze

      Nelson:
      As always thanks for your insight. Once I get the article I will post it on my site.
      Larina

  4. Penny Whitlock-Blair

    Wonderful reading…being the Balancer, I forget about myself. I do need some followup from our last conversation…I am reading between the lines and it is frustrating me….I look forward to catching up in the next couple of days or before Christmas!! xoxo Penny

    1. Larina Hintze

      Penny:

      Would love to catch up soon! I will call you 🙂

      xoxoxo

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