Is Living a "Balanced Life" Achievable?

Do you ever feel like achieving balance in your life is a struggle?

Ever wonder what a balanced life really is, and whether or not it must remain balanced all the time through various seasons of life?

Many of us, probably most of us, live busy lives. It seems there is a lot going on with family, work, church and our desire to succeed in business (or at work).

Maintaining a balanced life can at times seem elusive and often impossible.

I found it very freeing to come to the realization years ago that living a balanced life through the various seasons of life was not a realistic expectation one should have.

To take it one step further, I believe that anyone desiring to accomplish anything great will be required at times to find things out of balance, and I’d like to give you permission to realize that is okay, at least for a season.

Let’s look at a few examples.

A college student cramming for a test, possibly spending many hours over a short period of time studying for an important exam, is not living a balanced life.

Another example would be the addition of a baby to one’s life. We have had six, so we know this one well!

Having a newborn in the home is a wonderful blessing but it certainly throws your life out of balance.

Life is not balanced when you are not able to get an adequate seven or eight hours of sleep. Or when that newborn baby requires extra time and attention that takes away from other relationships, that season of life is not necessarily “balanced.”

Another example would be training for a marathon, or an Ironman, or any other extreme physical challenge. We are not going to be living a perfectly balanced life during that 6-month period of training, and that is okay.

The key thing to remember about imbalance is that it should only be for a season. We shouldn’t plan to stay in that imbalance long-term.

In the beginning of starting to build a business, to get it going often requires building with laser focus and intensity and is very likely to lead to some imbalance for a season, which again is not something one should feel badly about.

To be clear, I am not saying we should sacrifice marriages or relationships in the process. To share our vision with our family and to gain their understanding and support is always wise and beneficial.

It better equips them to support us as we make those short-term sacrifices in order to see our vision realized.

When Nicole and I launched our “work-from-anywhere” (as I like to call it) online business seven years ago, we decided that we were going to make some short-term sacrifices for long-term gain.

We knew life was not going to be perfectly balanced for a season, and we shared our vision with our children to gain their buy-in and support.

We knew that by temporarily living an “imbalanced life” (not an unhealthy life) for a season, we could eventually live a much more balanced life for many more years to come, which has proven to be the case.

I believe those willing to make some short-term sacrifices for long-term gain have the potential to create an even more balanced life in the long run, than had they never tried to achieve their goals and dreams for fear of temporary imbalance in their life.

I hope this encourages you to chase your dreams, if fear of imbalance has been holding you back. No longer! Let’s go!

Until next time,