BALANCED (adj): having different elements in the correct proportions

PURSUITS (noun): an activity of a specified kind, especially a recreational or athletic one

The word “balance” is in the title of our podcast, but what does it really mean? Kristi & I ask all our guests how they find balance in their lives, and of all of our standard wrap questions, this one makes our guests pause the most. Often our guests say things like “Oh, I think I’m still working on that one” or “I haven’t figured that out…” but then go on to give an answer that really speaks to our perspective of balance. So, we decided we should probably record an episode about what balance really means!

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

What we mean by balance

What balance looks like in each of our lives

Why it’s important to have balance

How to cultivate more balance in your life

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Know your values/priorities - check in on them frequently as they may change over time

Be willing to say no - some things just aren’t worth your time (check in on your reasons for wanting to say yes - scarcity (I’ll never have an opportunity like this again) or people-pleasing (I don’t want to let them down).

Look at life as seasons - don’t try to fit everything in at once, don’t seek balance in each day, but over the long term (see-saw analogy)

Have multiple interests that carry equal weight & importance in your life not just by time or money but by the emotional value the hold for you.

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT:

It’s a crazy time in the world. Most of us are on some kind of lockdown or at least practicing social distancing. For many of us, our routine has been stripped away. Our lives look like shells of what they used to be. It may seem impossible to prioritize your values right now, but we beg to differ.

Times like this are a perfect opportunity to reflect on what really matters and to start building habits to prioritize your values from a blank slate. Take a few moments to think about what truly fulfills you in life. Are you prioritizing these elements or are other things taking precedent? How can you give more attention to your current values? Even in this chaos, we can choose what gets our attention. Make it count.

Sending lots of love & health your way.

xo,

K + J