Finding Balance: Improving Your Life With Mindfulness
We can probably all relate to the feelings of overwhelm, frustration, exhaustion, and turmoil that we experience when our lives aren’t quite in balance. We may experience relief from these feelings for a brief time, but it is likely that they reappear time and time again.
Checking-In With Ourselves
Finding balance is not a goal in and of itself, but it is a process. A process that requires us to check-in with ourselves on a regular basis. Without checking in with ourselves, we are unable to be aware of what we can fit into our lives with ease and what we can commit to from a willingly, joyful and authentic place. Checking-in with ourselves aids us in discovering what we would love to have in our lives - what we may be longing for, but are missing.
As humans we have been taught from a very young age to ignore our feelings and needs. From being told not to cry (or release or express our feelings), eat at lunchtime (not when we are hungry), to go to bed at bedtime (not when we are tired) - we lose track of our feelings and needs and do what we think we ‘should’ be doing. This impacts us later when we take on too much or say ‘yes’ to things because we think we ‘should’ do, not because they are really meeting our needs. Our needs for balance, harmony, ease, and peace are jeopardized in these moments.
When we rebel against what we have been taught and slow down to really, deeply connect with our feelings, we can more easily identify our needs. The more we do this, the more natural it will feel and the more it can support us in the moments we need clarity and confidence the most.
Being mindful of our own needs is possibly the most supportive step we can take towards finding and maintaining balance in our lives.
When we exist having many of our needs unmet, we are probably going to feel out of balance! When we know what needs of ours are unmet, we can make changes to meet those needs, and experience more balance and ease.
Making it a daily routine to really check-in with ourselves can help us make choices that are in alignment with our needs, creating opportunity for more balance.
Checking in with a professional can be a great support for this as well.
Boundaries
By practicing mindfulness and becoming aware of what we are feeling and our deep needs month-by-month, week-by-week, day-by-day, and even moment-to-moment, we can make choices and create boundaries that support us and guide us towards a more balanced life. Sometimes, creating boundaries is a necessary part of finding balance. When we connect to the needs we are honoring when we say “no”, it can make the process of creating and communicating boundaries more understandable, connecting, and empowering. (Here is a previous blog post about connecting to your inner voice and building self-confidence, which may be helpful if setting boundaries is challenging for you).
Other Resources
There are plenty of resources out there where you can read more about finding balance, get more tips and learn more strategies to bring more balance to your life.
Thanks for reading!
Click here to learn more about therapy for mindfulness.
