Balance and the New Year Ahead

The new year stretches before us like an adventure course. Let’s welcome it with hope and enthusiasm!

We and our children come to the threshold of 2014 as whole persons - body, mind, and spirit. We can navigate the unknown course ahead with joy - as we listen closely to ourselves - with a sense of balance - one step at a time.

What does “balanced living” mean to you? Here are some thoughts to consider. Please add your own perspective!

Wholeness

Have you ever found yourself feeling “out of sorts” because one aspect of your life - such as work or parenting - has so dominated your attention and energy that other parts of yourself have gone untended? I can relate.

Unbalanced living has taken a toll on my wellbeing - and impacted the people and work I love. I was living as a human-doing instead of a whole human being.

Recently, I’ve taken time to really listen to my whole self - body, mind, and spirit. I’ve chosen to take time for sleep, healthy eating, exercise, solitude, and simple things that bring me joy. Since the number of hours available to me each day hasn’t changed - I’ve needed to make choices.

This quote from Fred Rogers is a touchstone:

“You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. Hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are.”

Vision

Every once in a while, it’s healthy for us - and for our children - to pause for some perspective. How else can we regain a “deep sense of who we are”?

Let’s pause to ask ourselves, in the words of poet Mary Oliver:

“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

And let’s answer this question with our whole body, mind, and spirit - not merely identifying long term career goals - but also choosing ways of living as our full selves in the rhythm of our days.

You and your child may have your own ways of entering into this sort of reflection. If you’re interested in ideas, you can find them here:

• See How Far You’ve Come
• Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
• Giving Words to Our Vision
• Taking Time to Grow What Matters
• On Becoming Ourselves
• A Good Day
• WRAP - A Wellness Plan
• The Greatest Gift
• 5 Ways to Move Beyond Overwhelm
• Teaching Kids to Plan and Take Action Toward Personal Goals

One Step at a Time

Your to-do list is long. You have many responsibilities. Surely you don’t have time to read all the posts linked above in one sitting. Never mind putting all the ideas you’ll find there into action in the next 30 days.

They’ll be there when you want to consider them. To pick and choose what’s helpful to you - at your own pace.

If there’s one message I’d like to communicate today - it’s summed up on the bright yellow billboards popping up all over Portland.

You are enough. And so is your child.

You always have been, and you always will be.

May you and your child listen to and honor your whole self.

May you live your days in ways that nurture your body, mind, and spirit.

May you make choices not from fear - but from a deep sense of who you are.

May you and your child enjoy each step of your own wild and precious lives!

Your turn

What does living a balanced life mean to you? We’d love to hear your ideas about nurturing balance in day to day life, and in teaching children to make choices that are based on a deep sense of self.

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Did you find this post helpful? Please share it. Thanks!

May 2014 be full of grace and growth and joy and love for you and your child!

Image Credits: Hans Braxmeier on Pixabay and GoodNews Network