Thursday, March 21, 2013

The Brevity of Balance



Is balance over-rated? For any of us who strive to live a more balanced life, we usually find that when we reach that  point of balance, we can't hold on to it for very long. Just like standing in tree pose, or head stand, in the middle of the room. If we don't know when to come out of the pose, by listening to our bodies, we loose our balance and fall over. I have lost count of the number of times I have fallen, not only on the yoga mat, but in my everyday life! There are plenty of examples in my new book Third Time Lucky: A Creative Recovery. But recovery is not about staying down. We get up, dust ourselves off, and begin again.

Balance is brief. Nature shows us that too. Today is the equinox, one of only two days in the entire year, when there is equal amount of daylight and darkness. The perfect point of balance, when the Earth is tipping on it's axis, with the Sun the directly above, only lasts for a breath. Only a breath! That is the nature of things. If that is okay with the Universe, why can't we accept it too?


I have often found myself getting upset, when all the hard work I have put into balancing my check book, diet, or schedule, goes out the window - in a flash!  All is takes is one unknown expense, trip to the patisserie, or phone call to to tip the scales in a direction I don't like. That's the problem right there, "not liking".  We can get so caught up in our likes and dislikes that it overshadows the fact that whatever is going on, is going to change again…. and again and again and again. We put all our focus on being out of balance, rather than simply noticing it, accepting it, and making the choice to go towards balance once again. Change is the nature of things.

To follow is a simple practice you can do, whenever you are feeling out of sorts, to bring more ease into the situation. By consciously balancing your breath, you can remind yourself to slow down, be kind to yourself and press the reset button. Here we go. Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart. Inhale to a six count and exhale to a six count, or whatever count feels good for you. Do this for a minute or two, focusing on the rise and the fall your body with the rise and fall of your breath. Imagine that you are breathing in the light, and on the exhale you are  going towards the light…. or love or peace or whatever word or image feels right for you in this moment. When we balance our breathing, it helps to balance or thoughts.  Remember, everything in your life does not have to be in balance all at once!

Today, why not take a moment to consider one action you could take to bring more balance into your day. Would you be willing to let us know about it? 

For me, I just realized, I have been absorbed in writing at my computer for hours. I will go towards balance by logging off, going for a long walk in my neighborhood, and breathing in the buds of spring! 

Personally, I don't think balance is overrated, I think perfection is.

Happy Equinox! 

3 comments:

  1. I have been working feverishly away on the computer all day today Pasha,but stopping for a moment to read your blog just now, I am going to do just what you suggest. It's a gray, rainy, west of Ireland day here, so i will wrap myself in a cozy blanket and make a cup of tea and just do nothing for a while, but relax and breathe. Thanks for the reminder x

    ReplyDelete
  2. We are Blessed. Always beginning Again. Again. Again......

    ReplyDelete