As elusive as a unicorn
Lately I’ve been thinking that our search for balance is right up there with finding a unicorn prancing in our back yard.
We all yak about being in balance as the Holy Grail of personal growth, but most of us never get close to having it. Why is that?
As in: “I’d love for my life to be in balance. Because OMG I’m so stressed out!”
But somehow, finding that balance is as elusive as ever. No Holy Grail. No 4-leaf clover. No unicorns.
This year, I found balance. It was unexpected. And more surprising was what I didn’t have to lose to get it.
Here’s how the conversation about balance goes:
YOU: “I am SO overwhelmed. I just need more balance in my life!!’
ME: “Why don’t you just get your life in balance right now?”
“What, now? I can’t do it now. I have two papers due, my daughter’s school called because they found her with a vape pen if-you-can-believe-that, and if I don’t get some cash flow I’m going, I’m going to max out the credit card I need to pay for some medical bills!”
“OK, so it sounds like you can’t stop for balance or really bad things will happen, right?”
“Yeah that’s about it.”
“So when will you get some balance going?”
“As soon as I get through all this.”
“And when is that?”
“I don’t know.”
The problem is that balance becomes an ideal – something you can’t have until you’ve done all the hard work getting there.