Eight simple ways to find balance

Eight simple ways to find balance.

Simple things can motivate and inspire us to feel better. When we feel better, we do better and so have better life experiences. Here are eight activities that are doable, yet simple, and will make a massive difference in your achievement of a balanced life.

1. Give gratitude - If you are reading this, you can breathe! You have use of your senses! You are able to comprehend! Think of what you have around you - the things you possess, a roof over your head, a bed to lie in, clothes to wear. By acknowledging and giving gratitude, this creates the energy for more good things to flow into your life. What do you have gratitude for?

2. Smile - Try it! That's right: SMILE! Don't you feel better already? Think of a wonderful experience, a happy moment, holidays, fun times spent with family or friends. Too often, we dwell on thoughts that are non-supportive to our positive well-being. Smiling stimulates the manufacture of serotonin in the brain. This 'happy chemical' controls moods and makes us feel better, less anxious and less stressed. Make an effort to smile when you feel down. Notice how your outlook on a situation changes as a result.

3. Get perspective - In a challenging situation, ask yourself: 'What's the worst that can happen?' In a year's time what will I think about this? What's another way to look at this?' Make the effort to see your difficult issue from the opposing viewpoint. By challenging surface thinking you will immediately develop an empowering perspective.

"Life is amazingly good when it's simple and amazingly simple when it's good." - Terri Guillemets. 

4. Get moving - Play an upbeat song and do a wild and exaggerated dance around the bedroom. You may also want to start a regular workout at the gym or go for a walk. Do whatever it takes to raise your flow of chi. Chi is the universal force of energy that is vital to life. Keep this flowing and feel the difference in your motivation and energy levels.

5. Say hi and listen - Did you know that the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, is named after Alfred Bird who invented custard in the 1800s? Bird was a pharmacist who also invented baking powder. These interesting facts emerged in a random conversation I struck up with someone in the sauna recently. Today, talk to someone you don't know. Show interest in them, ask questions and have the objective that: "I want to learn something from this person today."

6. Do nothing - The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) dictates that 20% of input leads to 80% of output or results. Input 10 minutes of devoted 'do nothing' time into your daily routine. Find a comfortable, quiet place, and sit upright, close your eyes and practice silencing the mind. This might be difficult to do at first as random fleeting thoughts come and go, yet with practice you will improve your ability to meditate in the 'do nothing' state. Set an alarm to sound after 10 minutes. In allowing time for inner peace, calm and tranquility, you will feel much more energised to accomplish tasks on your daily agenda and do so with renewed vigour.

7. Enjoy something: What activity takes you into that state of being so totally absorbed that nothing else matters? What do you focus on that challenges you, yet gives a total sense of satisfaction when completed? Create a list of five things you enjoy doing - whatever it is that makes time not matter. This could be painting, playing a musical instrument, writing a short story, or a poem, for example. For me it's reading or playing Solitaire. Once you've decided on the tasks, choose one and 'make it happen'. Build this activity into your daily or weekly routine.

8. Be different: Do something out of the ordinary. Perhaps change your style of clothing, take a different route to work, have a conversation on something you wouldn't usually talk about, go to the gym at a different time. Shake up your routine in some way. As you shift into the zone of new experiences, treat this as a field experiment on self. Record your observations. What did you enjoy about doing things differently? What interesting things happened? How can you create more 'differences that bring you a greater sense of balanced well-being?

"Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu.

As you work towards achieving your goals, try out a new thought, attitude or behaviour that is simple, yet powerful in shifting the balance of well-being in your favour. Remember to update your Coach on your insights.

Have fun!

The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Life Coach Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

Share this article with a friend
Show comments
Image

Find a coach dealing with Confidence

All coaches are verified professionals

All coaches are verified professionals