Finding The Balance

Most of us live out our lives in the grey area between conflict and harmony. At any time we are heading towards or away from either extreme. Circumstances determine our direction as much as our position. We are broadsided by situations and individuals and left to flounder about in a bid to regain equilibrium and focus.

So much of our emotional energy is spent seeking balance. The effort depletes our resources. There are times when we can feel beaten. There are times when we are beaten. But, while it is a combination of factors that puts us at a particular point at a particular time, the duration of our stay is very much a matter of personal choice.

The only inevitability – should we decide to pursue it – is change. It is altogether possible to become master of our own destiny…to make our life more a reflection of what we want it to be rather than simply accept what it is.

The key is to play the game of life smarter, not harder.

At the heart of everything is choice. The point too many people miss is that it’s not possible to make choices for other people.

We all get to choose – but it’s extremely personal. We can demonstrate, we can love, we can offer to guide and we can hope to influence but we are unable to force change in someone other than ourselves.

In the final analysis we get to choose the person we are just as we get to choose the person we want to be. Choice followed by action results in change. But it takes work. Often the work is arduous. That highlights the necessity for self management but, above all else, self care.

We have a core responsibility to ourselves. And it’s life-long. We ignore it at our peril.