I’ve had a little too much time to myself over the past couple of months. So, I decided to dive deeper into the meaning behind my blog and my overall why. I ultimately concluded that I wasn’t focusing on what I truly loved, and I needed to change that. During the process, I came to a significant realization; Balance is exactly what you make it, and it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) fit into one specific box.

I’ve honestly been going back and forth in my head to decide if I was even going to post this, but you know what, it does need to be said. I feel called to share this with you. This post is the culmination of my thoughts written down on paper, and I hope it resonates with you somehow.

What Is Balance To You?

I know life can get too chaotic to find the balance that everyone and their mother are talking about. I get it. But don’t take the definition of balance too literally. That’s what held me back for years.

Let me explain. You know when you were on the seesaw when you were a kid, and your sibling didn’t want you to touch the ground, so they put all their weight on the seat so it would stay on the ground? Think about how that relates to your life for a second.

When you’re up in the air, and you’re yelling at your sibling to let you down, it may feel like you’re going to be stuck up there for what feels like forever. Think of this moment as the external circumstances trying to pull you in a different direction than what you want to go in. 

Yes, the situation may prevent you from getting down off the seesaw for a few minutes, but then once you’re off, you can decide to go on it with your sibling again. This is because you’re in control of your life and whatever comes next. Whatever that looks like for you is the same thing that helps you create balance within your own life. It’s your choice.

The Formal Definition of Balance

I took the liberty to find the definition on the Merriam-Webster website. They say the essential meaning of balance is “The state of having your weight spread equally so that you do not fall, the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling, and a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance.”

I took balance in the literal form for years, and it completely screwed with my head. During my time of introspection, I was thinking to myself, “how the hell can I tell my audience about balance when I feel like my life is chaotic AF?”

It turns out that everyone that I’ve talked to told me that we’re all seeking some “balance” to shift things into something else that works for us. And that balance is different for every one of us at our core.

This Is What Made Me Start Questioning Everything.

I was on a zoom call for work a couple of months ago, and one of the people on the call said something on the lines of, “balance doesn’t exist if you’re doing what you love.” It shocked me so much that I legit had to stop and think about that statement for a few minutes to understand how I felt about it.

I can honestly say I was stunned and calm at the same time. There was too much going on in my head, and my mind was racing a mile a minute, but I knew there was a reason I heard that comment and why it made me start questioning everything.

After a few weeks of thinking about it (and going back and forth in my head more times than I can count), I agree and respectfully disagree.

Balance is an integral part of this blog and also within everyone’s lives; however, the meaning of balance changes based on whatever you need. If you’re doing the things you love, people say you don’t work a day in your life. However, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get there.

When you’re working full-time and working on that side hustle in your spare time, you need to balance out everything else you do in your life to make room for the things you WANT to do. Because of that, I believe in the fluidity of the concept.

Balance Is Fluid.

In simple terms, I believe balance is fluid. Balance comes and goes. I do believe that balance comes when you’re doing something you love. However, you can still do something else that seems okay and, deep down, doesn’t feel right. It’s up to you to change that.

Think about it… you go through life, going to school to find a career that suits you. Then that career needs to pay you well enough to live the life you want. What happens when you find that job that you love? You find balance because you can finally do what you want outside of your career.

At any rate, balance is subjective and varies from person to person. It’s based on your personal goals and development. 

So, what is a balance to you? What makes your life balanced? It’s so unique to everyone, and that’s what makes it super interesting and exciting to pursue.