Can we really have it all?
In reading one of my on-line veterinary journals, I came across an article on how to assess life balance. It used an image of a wheel with spokes. Each spoke represented an area or category in life (family, career, relationships, health, finances, recreation, spirituality, community and personal growth). The category is assessed from 0-5, with 0 (no investment) being on the spoke near the centre of wheel and 5 (fully invested) on the outer edge. Connecting the 9 assessment points creates a visual representation of your life.
Is your wheel round or have you got a “flat tire”? If it’s not round, what categories are not receiving enough attention? Which are getting too much?
Mine has a few flat spots. Hmmm…
Is life balance really possible?
I don’t think so. At least not in the way it’s typically envisioned.
There are times in our lives when we focus on different things. School. Work. Marriage. Children. Aging parents. Illness. Retirement. Maybe one or more of these categories didn’t “happen”, for whatever reason. The point is to be aware of what our wheel looks like and make changes if we feel it’s needed.
That’s what Richard St. John writes in his book, “8 to be Great“. He said “In reality, in our lifetimes, we constantly swing back and forth from one extreme to the other on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. And averaged out over time, we achieve balance.”. A different perspective. I like it.
I played with the idea of balance, as a theme for a yoga class. I know that I’m still seeking balance in my version of Warrior 3, Dancer and Tree poses. I find that some days are better than others. Sometimes, I surprise myself in my ability to stand on one leg. Most of the time, I feel myself wobble, wiggle and fall over. But it’s in the effort to find balance that I learn the most about myself.
