How to Find Life Balance

Life balance – now there’s a gold mine of a topic, isn’t it? It seems everyone is pursuing it and yet few people claim it. And even if they have a time of claiming what they think of as life balance, it is fleeting.

But here is a bizarre thought for you – what if life balance isn’t something that we can really ever find? What if it is just a fantasy, a thing of our imagination? What if we have the goal wrong? That could explain why it is so evasive and fleeting! Perhaps that’s why we rarely feel we’ve reached it – whatever that it looks like for us.

Perspective

I love the idea of perspective. The idea that the way you look at and think of something is uniquely yours and that if you come at things from a different angle, then your perspective can change!

To me, the ability to change my perspective, to see things from a different point of view, is an incredible blessing. It truly has the ability to change my attitude toward things that might otherwise be mental roadblocks.

For instance, my sister and I are polar opposites. She will come up with an idea or have a thought that completely opposes anything I’ve considered. (okay, okay, that sounds rather extreme and that is not how it always is, but every now and then our ideas just clash!) I’ll tell her honestly that I’m not wild about the idea, but to give me time to consider it.

And after I’ve had time to consider this idea from different points of view, I might discover the idea is brilliant and she was right all the time! But if I had just fired off with a negative response to begin with we may never have given her idea a chance!

All this to say, give opportunities and ideas a chance. Don’t speak out or act in haste. Pray, consider, and seek wise counsel. Consider another’s perspective on a situation that you can’t wrap your mind around. Changing your perspective – or even just identifying it – can open up a world of possibilities that you may be missing out on!

Peace

Now here is the part that I am most excited to share with you: peace.

What if life balance isn’t the goal, but rather peace in the season you are in?

Life is made up of seasons and each season has it’s highs and lows. Being an optimist I try to magnify the highs and gloss over the lows. I don’t need to wallow in them. Every low brings a higher high! When we do our work for God, He promises to be with us always – through the valleys and on the mountains. Yes, I do my best to learn important lessons in the lows and yes, just like everyone I have off days, but I don’t remain there. As the song goes, I pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again!

Peace can be found in realizing your potential. Instead of going about your day, a bit out of sorts due to all that you have to do, change your perspective. Consider all that you get to do! You get to do laundry because God blessed you with the people around you! You get to make another meal because God blessed you not only with people but with food too! I get to find stock for Fall because God has blessed me with customers! Change your tune and you will change your life!

It is vital that we find peace in the season that we are in. As a single gal, I definitely anticipate having a husband and a family, but what really matters is what I do right here and now. I have a unique opportunity to spend time with my family, support our local law enforcement, run a pretty little shop, and encourage those around me. Someday when my husband comes along these opportunities will be replaced by other things, but for now I need to focus on the present right where God has me!

All Your Might

One last thing I want to leave with you is a reference that seems to hold a new meaning now – Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Do your work heartily. Not half-heartedly or haphazardly. But remarkably well, for it is the Lord you are serving.

I believe that if we focus on serving God remarkably well in the season He has us in, we will find something even better than life balance.

Until Next Time!

Hope.

PS. Don’t stop here – keep reading! https://www.theamericanlady.com/2017/04/05/how-to-embrace-this-season/