The truth is, beauty sometimes does escape me.  I’m busy getting things done, and I forget to notice the world around me.  But it means a lot to me to not let it slip by.  I go for walks as often as I can and remind myself to catch the sunrise, sunshine, late nights when the world is dark and still – it’s so peaceful.

I think that’s the blessing of sick days (and yes, I’m taking a quick break and writing this from bed where I’ve been down a few days with a cold).  It causes you to slow down and notice things.  And though I’ve taken the full week off, I was so inspired I had to write this.

I live in a home with huge glass windows and the immense beauty of the rolling grey clouds announcing another rain is about to begin, just captured me completely on a trip to the kitchen for water.  I had to stop and sit down with a chair in front of the windows and catch my breath and thank God for not letting this beauty escape me.  It was an artist’s huge palette and perfect painting of the quick rumbling, yet graceful clouds.

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What is this thing called “Balance” that we seek?Aside from it’s regulating measure and weight definitions, Webster uses these three definitions used here to address this inner need we have ”to bring into harmony or proportion” our lives.  Like everyone else, I have days focused on trying to attain stability between productive actions and satisfying restfulness ? trying to get over the have-to-stuff and get on to the good-stuff.  Can you equalize these scales in life? 

Clients seek this answer to maintain a ”state of equilibrium,” and when they can’t find it they look hard to find the “influence counteracting the effect of another,” to bring them back to a more satisfying existence.  There wouldn’t be definitions for this if it weren’t the human condition.  And in coaching I can be helpful to someone who wants to identify their deepest interests and values and live more true to them.  Yet, my short answers from my own experience are these:

1. Find out what you love to do the most and do it as much as you can. (visiting family, being in nature, engaging in creative projects, meditating, exercising, laughing, etc.

2. Love whatever you do the most (when you’re working-do it joyfully-find stimulation in the tasks at hand and welcome new challenges.  When you’re with others-decide when it’s important to be fully focused on them more than on a mutual exchange.  Become curious and renew your relationships this way.  If you’re washing dishes, enjoy the simplicity inherent in the act itself, rather than hurrying to get it over with, etc.)

It’s not what’s around the bend in the road or even the mountaintop – it’s the road itself.

How do you satisfy your balance needs?