We seem to have a steady diet of stress these days. Similar to disciple our food intake, we need to find solutions to the pressure we ingest into our bodies.
Stress occurs when we have issues with finances, work, relationships or with ourselves. Life can be messy, so there are always opportunities for stress to surface up. None of us has perfect lives. We have plenty of opportunities, on a daily basis, to decide whether to increase or decrease the stress in our lives.
Health, finances, work, and relationships — the mighty “stress” foursome. These areas make up the bulk of our lives. At any one time, one or more of them can put us into a tailspin and add a dose of stress into our lives.
I had a health challenge two years ago, and I’m still releasing stress around this part of my journey in life. I’m better, yet the memory of that year lingers. Each day I decide to be healthy. I’ve also had financial challenges through it all, and today I’ve found a better niche and am happier with the work I’m doing. I still have economic concerns, but I’m working on them, making better decisions for my well-being.
So how do you strike a balance between the different areas of your life? The operative word here is “balance.” We all know that balance amongst all the areas of our lives doesn’t exist. What does exist is our awareness when one area is off balance. That is our journey in life…working on our brand of balance. We share some common stress factors when we have to deal with a health or financial issue, yet our reactions to the same situation can be different.
It is a consistent effort on our part to strike a balance, not something you do once, and it’s done. Instead, it’s listening to yourself on a daily, and sometimes moment-by-moment basis to get an accurate reading on where you are.
It does sound like a lot of work. Having low energy, feeling out of sorts and not very happy is also a lot of work. What would you rather be doing?
Don’t you feel you are happier when you are growing? I know I feel lighter and more relaxed when I’ve made a decision to eliminate a stressful situation, person or thought in my life. When we are stagnant, it adds additional stress to our lives. Even if you are doing something small in one of the areas in your life, you decrease stress. When you decide to say “no” to stress and “yes” to a change in action or attitude, you feel better already.
What does balance look like
Balance is personal. We all journey through our lives in a different manner. I remember a friend shared with me the difference in people’s lives.
For some, life is a mile wide and an inch deep. Where others need a mile deep and an inch wide. Where do you see yourself?
I’m probably more the mile wide and inch deep kind of person. Even though I have many routines in my life, I like variety in my work. At this wonderfully mature stage in my life, I finally have it. Others need to specialize and make decisions to limit other areas of their lives.
Your Thoughts
Balance is not a cookie cutter image for all. What’s your stress level? Check out the stress quartet and evaluate the importance of each – health, finances, work, and relationships. In different stages of our lives, we have different needs.
You know what is “working and not working” by listening to yourself to ensure you are living the life that works for you.
Women’s Group Topics
How does stress play out in your lives? What areas in your life do you feel the most stress? How can you brainstorm with others to find solutions to at least one stressful area in your life?
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we need to stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(Pat Brill)
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Stress is a sign of imbalance in our life. Like you I am a mile wide, inch deep kind of person. Not having variety stresses me and yet having too much variety is a stress itself.
I’m completely happy with devoting myself into my work right now but that’s becuz i’m a recent college grad. I feel like balancing your life is a constant battle becuz circumstances change daily, if not more.
Jennifer
I understand the balance between too little and too much variety. What happens is that during the day too much variety defocuses me. Rather I now understand that I need to focus for a given time on one thing and then move on to the next when I’m completed.
It’s still challenging as I can get easily diverted since I’m interested in varied subjects.
Thanks for sharing.
Pat
Diana
Good for you that you know where you need to focus your energies.
Balance is a combination of where we need to focus our attention as well as listening to ourselves. Our bodies tell us when we are out of wack and need to make a change.
It’s all about the decisions we make…some you say ‘yes’ and others ‘no.’ I know it sounds simple, but where we focus our attention is what we get.
Thanks for sharing.
Pat