Counter the Impact of Life’s Many Demands With Intentional, Restorative Practices
A life of balance looks different for everyone. For some, completing a hard workout and eating a nourishing meal may be soothing and restorative.
For others, updating a personal budget and meeting up with friends for a night of enriching conversation might be just what the doctor ordered. In this series, we celebrate the many ways through which we can come to centeredness by spotlighting women who are intentional about cultivating joy and balance through their own unique practices.
Learn to be okay with imperfection.
Balance is such a funny word to me because – by definition – it indicates that every thing of importance is given equal measure. I used to struggle with that concept, especially because I am a recovering perfectionist. That’s not to say I’ve shifted away from always doing my best; rather, I’ve redefined what’s truly important to me, allowing me the freedom to be okay with imperfection.
Set simple goals.
Prior to December 2019, I was completely out of balance. I was struggling with my weight, which led to low self-confidence, low energy, and a complete lack of wanting to engage in my community. A health coach helped give me tools to dream again, and I quickly realized that what started out as a few simple scale goals had become so much bigger. Peeling back the layers of my own rediscovery allowed me to find joy again in everything. Because of those simple goals, I now have the privilege of coaching others to aspire to their own best self.
Define your foundation daily.
I start each day by deciding what the “rocks” of my joy are going to be – family time, nutrition, self-care, rediscovery, faith, reflection. Being part of a community filled with people who lift each other up and want to see others succeed is such a gift. I don’t know if I will ever find true balance in the traditional sense, and I’m okay with that. Life is unstructured and chaotic. If I spend too much time trying to overly organize it, I’ll miss out on living it.
