June 7 – The Art of Balancing Mind, Heart, and Body

“Every time you say no to a less-than-appealing request, you say yes to something else. Maybe it’s a golden hour to take a bubble bath, read a good book, or play with your kids. Saying no frees you to pursue a dream, to take a class, and develop your potential, or to work for a cause you believe in. The more time you can give to the things you truly care about, the more satisfying your life will feel.” Connie Hatch

Imagine a three-legged stool. Each leg represents a key aspect of well-being: mental, emotional, and physical. When all three legs are sturdy and of equal length, the stool stands strong and stable. But if one leg is weak or shorter, the entire structure becomes wobbly, prone to tipping over.

That's how balance works in our lives. When we nurture each aspect of our well-being – mental, emotional, and physical – we create a foundation for overall happiness, fulfillment, and success.

“Tidied all my papers. Tore up and ruthlessly destroyed much. This is always a great satisfaction.” Katherine Mansfield

Think about a time you've experienced a good balance. Maybe you were regularly exercising, eating healthy meals, and getting enough sleep. Your mind felt clear, your emotions were stable, and you had the energy to tackle challenges. This sense of balance allows our bodies, as Rick Hanson puts it in Resilient, to experience "a sense of balance. Our bodies are able to refuel and repair. They can recover from stress."

On the other hand, an imbalance can have a ripple effect, impacting everything from our relationships to our productivity. Have you ever been so swamped with work that you neglected your social life? The constant stress might lead to anxiety and irritability, impacting your interactions with loved ones. Or maybe you've fallen into a cycle of unhealthy eating and neglecting exercise. The physical consequences – fatigue, poor sleep – can then affect your focus and work performance.

Nicole Lepera, in How To Do the Work, emphasizes the importance of achieving balance to regain well-being: "What follows are some of the most effective, practical ways we can harness the healing power of our bodies to regain balance and build resilience."

“You need to know that you’re enough.” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

The key is finding the right balance for you. Mary Pipher, in Women Rowing North, captures this beautifully: "Repetition gives us security, while variation provides zest. We want a balance between regular habits that are deeply satisfying and spontaneity with its freshness and excitement. We want a good strong comfort zone, and we want to be able to push ourselves outside it on a regular basis."

For some, a sense of balance might come from a regular morning meditation practice, a weekly fitness routine, and prioritizing quality time with loved ones. For others, it might involve setting boundaries at work to avoid burnout, learning to say no to social obligations that drain their energy, or exploring a creative hobby to nurture their mental well-being.

“Some days you’re a bug. Some days you’re a windshield.” Price Cobb

The specific recipe for balance is unique to each individual. But the core principle remains the same: by fostering a sense of balance in our lives, we create the foundation for a thriving mind, a resilient body, and a heart brimming with joy.

Later this week, we'll delve deeper into how to achieve balance in specific areas of life, offering practical strategies and tools to create your own unique recipe for well-being. Remember, the journey to balance is a continuous exploration. Embrace the inevitable wobbles, celebrate the moments of stability, and enjoy the process of building a life that is both fulfilling and sustainable.

Activity –

Self-care toolkit: Develop a personalized self-care toolkit consisting of activities that help you recharge and rejuvenate. This could include activities such as meditation, journaling, taking a bubble bath, or going for a walk in nature.

In today's increasingly digital world, it's easy to lose sight of what makes us human. The constant bombardment of screens and social media can distract us from cultivating essential qualities like kindness, empathy, and resilience.

My book, Nurturing Hopeful Resilience,  guides parents and caregivers through the challenges of raising children in a technology-driven age. It explores the importance of instilling strong values in children from a young age to help them develop into compassionate, responsible, and fulfilled individuals.

Through a series of practical exercises and insightful reflections, this book delves into fourteen core values: curiosity, awareness, kindness, learning, self-awareness, fairness, playfulness, compassion, service, belonging, trustworthiness, authenticity, community, and responsibility. Understanding and nurturing these values can empower our children to thrive in a complex and ever-changing world.

This book offers a roadmap for raising children who are academically successful, emotionally intelligent, socially adept, and morally grounded. It encourages readers to prioritize human connection, empathy, and compassion over material possessions and fleeting digital distractions. By embracing the power of values, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.