When I think about life balance, images of a tight rope walker teetering on the brink of falling come to mind. How focused the tight walker must be to balance and control every muscle to skillfully, carefully, exhaustively manage every second so as not to misstep. This is what striving for life balance always felt like for me. Trying to balance all my roles as mother, wife, social worker and not to mention all the tasks and responsibilities that came with each role. Life has constant changing and moving parts with external factors influencing our daily lives. I have learnt that it is unrealistic to expect that we can perfectly balance every aspect of our lives all the time. Instead of striving for unrealistic equilibrium I am choosing to strive to live a life of alignment.
Living a life of alignment requires conscious and purposeful effort to align my actions, choices and priorities with my values, passions and purpose. Here are some practical steps that help me to live my life in alignment.
- Clarify your values: Start by identifying your core values-the principles and beliefs that guide your life. Reflect on what truly matters to you and what bring you a sense of meaning and fulfillment. Write them down and use them as a compass to make decisions and prioritize your time and energy.
- Define your purpose: Explore your passions, interests, and strengths to discover your life’s purpose. Ask your self what impact you want to make in the world and how you can align your daily activities with that purpose. Your purpose can evolve over time, so you may have to revisit it.
- Cultivate self-awareness: Develop a deep understanding of yourself-your strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and triggers. Find a practice that help you develop your self-awareness such as mindfulness, journaling, or seeking feedback from trusted individuals to gain insight into your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns. The more self-aware you become the better equipped you are to make choices in alignment with your authentic self.
- Prioritize and set boundaries: Identify your top priorities based on you values and purpose. Understand that you can’t do everything at once, so be intentional about where you spend your time, energy and resources. Set healthy boundaries to protect your priorities and ensure that you don’t overextend yourself or compromise your well-being.
- Take aligned actions: Once you have clarity on your values, purpose, and priorities, take consistent actions that align with them. Break down your goals into actionable steps and regularly review your progress. Be mindful of the choices you make and impact they have on your alignment. Remember the small steps in the right direction can lead to significant changes overtime.
- Embrace flexibility and adaptability: Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Embrace the reality that circumstances may change, your path to alignment may require adjustments along the way. Stay open minded, be willing to adapt, and view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning regardless of the outcome. Flexibility allows you to maintain alignment despite life disruptions.
- Practice self-care and wellbeing: Nurturing your physical. emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing is crucial for living a life of alignment. Prioritizing self-care activities that recharge and rejuvenate you. Engage in practices such as exercise, meditation, spending time in nature, spending time with those who feed your soul, and pursuing hobbies/activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
- Seek support and accountability: Surround yourself with a supportive network of family, friends, or mentors who understand and respect your desire for alignment. Share your journey with them, seek guidance when needed, and hold yourself accountable to your goals and commitments. Collaborate with like-minded individuals who can provide encouragement along the way.
Remember that living a life of alignment is a continuous process rather than a destination. Regularly reflect on your choices and assess whether they are in harmony with your values and purpose. Be patient and kind to yourself as you navigate the journey, celebrating process and embracing the lessons that come with each step along the way.
