Balance

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we just experienced the autumnal equinox. The dictionary defines autumn as that time of full maturity. Equinox is a time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length. It's the time of year when we have as much light as we have dark—a perfect balance.

Autumn is a great time to reflect on balance. In nature, growth turns inward in the fall. And for us, we have the added conditioning of spending years returning to school in the fall. Perhaps too, it's the seriousness of our farmer roots; that time to harvest and feast as each day seems less bright than the day before.  

When we try to achieve balance in our external world, that balance is fragile. One external event in our life, even a small event, can tip the scales. We can't easily control what comes our way. And trying to control external events is frustrating and distorts our life. 

So balance must come from within. How do you achieve internal balance? By acting deliberately and in full awareness, by stilling your body and mind.

Here are ten ways you might achieve inner balance:  

1. Express your boundaries. Learn communication skills if necessary.

2. Become fit in mind and body. Without fitness our body and mind are noisy. Fitness brings stillness.

3. Be fully present. The present is where things happen.

4. Eliminate judgment. Judgment of others is external. It moves us away from being fully present.

5. Have faith. With faith, we are more able to keep our attention on the present and less apt to judge.

6. Know what's true for you. Express YOUR truth and act deliberately.

7. Get your needs met. When your needs are not met, external forces affect you.

8. Honor your values. When your activities are not congruent with your values, you are stressed.

9. Rest. Take your time.

10. Listen to your inner voice. You can only be great when you honor your intuition.


“You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. But if you are beautiful at sixty, it will be your soul's own doing.” ~Marie Carmichael Stopes


“Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” ~ Guillaume Apollinaire