Remember when you first started to learn how to ride a bicycle? Changes are, you probably began on a tricycle, then moved to a bicycle with training wheels. Then after months of work on that, you were given the very scary task of riding on just two wheels (and a prayer). Well, and probably someone’s hand on the back seat as well.
The same thing, the same emotions happen anytime we try something new. Every day that we get out of bed is a journey, we are riding a bicycle and we have to stay in balance. This post is the first in two about life balance. It relates to this quote I recently added to my email signature:
“Life is like riding a bicycle, in order to keep in balance, you must keep moving.” –Albert Einstein
But it has me thinking… before we can hope on the bike, I think it’s important to slow down for a day and look at our lives as a whole. For our lives must be in balance before we take off down the road. On Thursday we’ll look at once our lives are in balance, how to hop on the bike to traverse the crazy world ahead – and stay in balance – without any knee scrapes.
So, lets look at your life.
Are you too active? Well… that begs the question ‘what is active anyway?’ Well, I believe active is when you don’t have the time to do the things you are most passionate about. Too active means you start to lose parts yourself that you used to deeply value. Active is good. Production is good. But active for active’s sake only keeps you active and away from things you know you’re rather be doing.
Are you passionate & creative? It’s amazing to me the art that can be created by artists. I may be AGE, but I’m still impressed any time I see a work of art. Anything creative inspires me. It motivates me. It obviously motivates those that create. But if your life isn’t in balance, chances are, your creative energy and creative exploration are operating at a deficit.
Do you have a work life and a personal life? It’s interesting. One day I will meet someone who refuses to check work e-mail outside the office and the next day I’ll meet someone who has their e-mail attached to their hip. I believe a balance needs to be found between the two. Yes, I have an iPhone (which I love, but don’t keep at my hip), but I have a balance. There are times and days where I am only working and there are times and days where I am only living. It’s important to have that balance, especially as someone who works from home. Work and life need their own energies and deserve importance.
Those are just three areas where we must find balance in our lives to be at our peak production, both professionally and personally. We’ll be spending more time in the coming weeks diving into tactics to create more balance, but on Thursday we’re going to dive right into jumping onto the bike and racing into life – in balance of course.
(flickr photo via salim)
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