By Tanya Jolliffe RDN, LD, CMHIMP
As women, mothers, daughters, co-workers, neighbors, and friends we can find it easy to be pulled in a variety of directions at once as we seek to serve those around us with love and care. When that happens, life can feel out-of-balance and like we are being tossed this way and that. As if we have no control over what comes next. Sort of feels like what we have just been through during a pandemic doesn’t it.
During uncertain and hectic times in life, it is very important to take notice of where we are anchored in order to maintain balance and uprightness. When sailing, it is very important to have a ship that is balanced so it can stay on course and upright. The same is true for us as we travel through life. If we aren’t living in balance, it is easy for us to get off course or even topple over.
What does it mean to live in balance? Living in such a way where various influences and elements are in healthy proportion. Having resilience of mind and feelings allows us to remain steady and upright without falling. King Solomon gives us some words of wisdom in Proverbs to help us learn how to live a life in balance.
“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV).
Here are some tips to help you live a balanced life.
- Guard your heart – A hardened heart from the evils and false teachings of the world is a sure way to lose sight of God’s truth and the plan and purpose he has for our life. Two great ways to guard your heart are to stay in the Word and connected to truth through reading scripture and connected to His direction for your life through prayer.
- Keep corrupt talk from your lips – Jesus points out in Luke 6:45 in the NIV the close relationship between our heart and our speech. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” While words are just words, they provide a glimpse of our heart. Take time to consider your speech and what it might be revealing about your heart.
- Look straight ahead – People get themselves in the most trouble and sin when they are watching what others are doing compared to themselves, their lives, their bodies, their parenting, their home, their jobs, their vacations etc. If we fix our gaze toward what is in front of US and what we are doing related to our purpose, we are less likely to be noticing what is going on with others. We are each an experiment of one with a purpose that is unique to us and God’s plan. Looking to others to define WHO we are cheats God out of that right and limits our ability to know WHOSE we are as well.
- Take only ways that are firm – We are called to live to an audience of one who is God the author and perfecter of our lives, to follow HIM and walk in his ways. When we do that, we are much less likely to ever get off track and walk in the unlevel ways of the world that lead us away from our purpose. However, if we do get pulled off track to unlevel paths, He is right there to lead us back on track in stride and step with Him.
- Don’t swerve – Walk straight in avoidance of those that are coaxing you toward the ways of the world, this way or that. This direction is repeated numerous times in scripture as an ongoing reminder. “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32 NIV). “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7 NIV). “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left” (Joshua 23:6 NIV).
We can find balance within our personal lives and our family life when all dimensions of well-being are in sync and working toward a common goal and purpose. Creating a healthy and well lifestyle for yourself or your family requires knowing what needs to change and determining how you are going to go about making those changes. If you or your family are looking for a tool to help you find balance, consider a lifestyle wellness promotion program to get you started. Use promo code LITM21 for 25% off.
