Article by: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries
I long for a more balanced life, don’t you?
We live in a society that is constantly racing towards bigger and better things.
People are more connected and, sadly, more isolated than ever before.
The standard we set for ourselves is perfection, and anything less than that is absolute failure.
I am constantly resisting the urge to go beyond the limits God has placed in my life because I relish in the feeling I get when I am able to do it all!
The problem is that I can’t find a way to do it all each and every day without severe consequences.
Establishing a habit of balance isn’t optional, it is absolutely necessary!
Establishing a #habit of #balance isn’t optional, it is absolutely necessary!One of the things I appreciate most about having a chronic health problem is that I simply cannot survive without balance.
When my life is out of balance, my body screams in protest.
I am truly blessed by my physical thermometer, constantly alerting me when I stray from the path I am called to walk.
God has specifically and strategically placed limitations on my physical life in order to teach me the beautiful habit of balance.
The world tells us to do more, be more, and have more….more, more, more!
When we set out to live a more balanced life, we must accept that we will do less, be less, and have less in the world’s eyes.
And we need to be OK with that.
When we choose balance over busyness, we open up time in our lives for rest and restoration.
Establishing a habit of balance is hard work because it is so contrary to our culture.
Establishing a #habit of #balance is hard work because it is so contrary to our culture.The lessons I have learned about balance in recent years were hard fought victories in my personal life.
I found healing, purpose, and hope in the sacred spaces that I discovered in the pursuit of balance.
You can too!
What does it mean to establish a habit of balance?
Establishing a habit of balance means taking the time to recognize the priorities in your life and portioning your time and resources accordingly.
If your priority is being healthy, then you must set aside time for rest, preparation of nutritious meals, time to build meaningful relationships, and spiritual growth.
If your priority is to support your family, then you must schedule time for work, and make certain you are well rested in order to excel at your job.
If your priority is raising Godly children, you must plan time to mentor and teach them, to connect with them and build relationships with them.
Nothing in this life comes without a cost.
Balance requires sacrifice.
In order to be successful at achieving a somewhat balanced life, we must dedicate our time and energy to the very most important tasks.
And we need to be willing to sacrifice everything else.
I have given up a lot on my own journey towards a more balanced life.
I don’t have as many friends as I once did, I am not as involved in my church as I used to be, and I have to say no far more than I would like to.
But when I found the strength to give up the non-essentials, I discovered a whole new way of living.
A balanced life is a sustainable life.
I am no longer spinning out of control, constantly on the verge of a complete physical and emotional melt down.
There are days and weeks where something beyond my control pushes my life out of balance.
But I have learned to recognize the signs and symptoms of an unbalanced life, and quickly do everything in my power to get it back in balance.
Often, when I am in the midst of a big project or have out of town guests, I allow myself to take on a bit more for a short time.
But I always, and I MEAN ALWAYS, schedule time to rest and recuperate the following week.
The price for living an unbalanced life is far too high, and I refuse to pay it.
The price for living an unbalanced life is far too high, and I refuse to pay it. #balance
When things get out of balance for one week, it often takes me two weeks to recover.
When I make the mistake of letting my life get out of balance for a month or two, it can take me six months to a year to recover.
I have spent far too much of my life recovering, it’s time to embrace my limitations establish a habit of balance.
I will practice saying no {to myself first, and then to others} and I will enjoy the sacred spaces that are hidden from the busy and burdened.
Will you join me in choosing balance over busyness in the upcoming year?
