The Never-Ending Search for Balance

If I were a cynical person I’d say that the idea of finding balance is something made up to drive us all insane. Unfortunately, I’m not cynical, and I can't just brush the idea off because not only do I believe that balance is important I also believe that there are people out there who have found it. Lately, though, it seems like I can’t even go a week without having a conversation with at least one person about how off-balance things are in our lives in some way or another. It's just so damn elusive.

For me I struggle with the balance between my current career during the day and my personal endeavors at night and on weekends. I'm working on remaining mentally challenged while knowing when I need to take a break. I'm busy trying to remind myself to take care of myself emotionally without forgetting the importance of my physical health. I'm also trying to honor my relationships with family and friends while respecting my need for alone time.

It’s all a challenge.

Based on regular conversations I have with my peers, I’m fully aware of the fact that I’m not the only twenty-something to feel this way. However, I’m willing to bet that this is something that many people deal with for their entire lives. And that scares the crap out of me.

This should come as no surprise for those who know me. I’m that person who is constantly being told things like “life is about the journey and not the destination." I'm also constatnly being reminded that this whole struggle to find balance makes you a bigger, better, stronger you. Yes, yes, yes. But the reality is that in this search for balance I’m holding strong to the hope that I will actually find it, and sooner than later (surprise, surprise).

So being the natural planner and wanna-be-life-predictor that I am, the question I pose to all of you is what have you found to work in your own search for balance? Right now, for every few steps I take forward I take one or two backwards. While that is progress, at the very least, I hope to start taking couple more steps forward each time and maybe even one less step backward. And, yes, I know. It’s about the journey… No need to remind me.