Balance

By: Renita Betts

The older I become, the more I am learning the importance of Balance. I am not only referring to balancing work and home life but balancing the three aspects of my being that consist of spirit, mental and physical. I find that we sometimes put more emphasis on one aspect than the other. This unintentional action happens in life as we have to put our self-care and preservation on hold to nurture and take care of those we love. On the other hand, we are told that we can only be as helpful to others as we are to ourselves. Isn't that Ironic?

Failing to nurture all facets of our being, can cause lopsided functionality. If a person is strong physically and not mentally it could cause them to believe any negative thought that pops in their head. Just like if a person is stronger spiritually than physically, they can detect certain energies but neglect to be cognizant of the body.

I am a firm believer that language is important and words have meanings and are not just verbiage we randomly use. Due to this belief, I looked up the word "balance" and per Google, it means "a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions". This translates as equally nurturing every aspect of our being.

Before Learning to Balance, how can all three aspects be identified?

The physical body consists of, well, the body. The body allows us to be present at the moment and helps us go about our day. Without our physical health, it is harder to perform some of our simple tasks. We must take the time to preserve our body through rest, routine doctor visits, monitoring what we eat, etc.

The part of us that controls our physical being is the mental portion of us.

Our mind is the driver and our body is the vehicle. Filtering the mind of doubt and self-defeat decreases fear and insecurity. There are so many sayings and scientific studies that conclude how people have overcome unfavorable circumstances by focusing their minds.

The perspective that urges the mind is the spiritual side. Spirit can also be translated as energy or the inner force. Energy transfers from one person to the next and can alter emotions, personality and or character. Protecting our spirit guards us against inviting vile outlooks on life. I believe spirit also attracts compassion but it is very important to gauge the situation and self-protect, especially if you are an empath.

How Can I Find Balance?

Balancing the mind, body, and spirit can sometimes be difficult but it's not impossible. There are some exercises you can do that can simultaneously nurture all three.

Exercise

Although this activity is associated with keeping the body healthy it is also beneficial to the mind and spirit. Exercise is known to release endorphins. Per Webmd.com, "endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain". Exercise is also known to manifest happiness and drives us to pursue spiritual needs.

Meditation

Mediation is widely known to nurture the mind and spirit, but it is also beneficial to the body. When meditating, we are driven to emphasize the body. For example, when starting the meditation process we are to focus on parts of the body. Focusing on the body and/or the five senses makes us present at the moment. If a person is mostly utilizing their mental entity they may miss being present in the moment. Meditation brings all three components in sync in that said moment. If meditation and affirmation activity is done daily it is said to bring balance and tranquility.

Taking a Break

Taking a breather from daily responsibilities are often missed when taking care of a family. If you fail to take a break or do something that brings you joy, stress will leak in. An extensive amount of stress can affect you by causing disease and fatigue in the body, depression and high anxiety in the mind and bitterness and heaviness in the spirit.

Taking a break does not always mean going to an island, although that would be nice if it was. It could be designating a day to go to the spa or setting out some time to catch up on a book. Taking on a hobby or returning to a passion you once had r is also a great way of giving back to yourself.

Don't be so hard on yourself if you first have a hard time finding balance. Be patient and keep in mind that over time your efforts will help build a stronger and happier self. You are worth it.