Everything starts with awareness. Take a moment to think about what and who may be getting shortchanged in your life. What might you wish to do differently to attain day-to-day equilibrium? For me, the answer is usually much the same: Craft/create, make time for quiet solitude, and exercise more regularly. Both arty crafts and enjoying quiet time alone clear the clutter from my mind, and exercise cleanses my body and emotions, which is very balancing. Gretchen, a client of mine, had a different answer: “Work less, worry less, and be less uptight.” Without a moment’s hesitation, another friend replied, “Oh, that’s easy! I’d be a lot more balanced if I lived more in faith and less in fear.” I bet hers is a pretty good answer for most of us. I know it is for me.
You will do yourself, your health, and your relationships a loving service when you have the courage to gently explore the imbalances in your life and take steps to correct them.
Once we become aware of what needs rebalancing and begin to work toward achieving more symmetry, it’s immensely helpful to know what types of ballast keep us on an even keel. Friendships, creative outlets, playing sports, being with our children, taking time for ourselves—there are so many. My favorite Webster’s definition of ballast is “something that gives stability or weight especially in character, conduct, ideas, or morals.” The vast majority of individuals whom I interviewed for How to Stay Upbeat felt that a belief in something greater than themselves bolstered their spirits and kept them afloat. Many mentioned that the love and support of family and friends sustained them during stormy times, and almost everyone agreed that being able to help others gave them a sense of meaning and purpose that was instrumental in their being able to “keep on keepin’ on” when the going got tough. It appears that ballast often incorporates faith, love, and service. Those seem to be pretty good indicators of stability in character, conduct, and morals, don’t they?
Gently and without judgment, ask yourself, What keeps me afloat? What acts as a life jacket or compass for me during turbulent and stressful times?
Excerpted from How to Stay Upbeat in a Beat Down World by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.
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