Post # 6 - What I’m Learning About Balance — and Why It’s Not the Goal

Posted under: Wellness & Habits | The Full Life Edit

For most of my adult life, I thought balance was the goal.

Work-life balance. Emotional balance. A perfectly balanced plate.

I imagined a life where everything had equal weight — nothing tipping too far in one direction.

Sounds nice, right?

But here’s what I’ve learned: balance is exhausting when treated like a finish line.

🎢 Life Doesn’t Work Like a Scale

Real life doesn’t hand you equal portions of peace, pressure, progress, and rest.

Some seasons are all hustle. Others are full of stillness, healing, or even grief.

Some weeks, I cook beautiful meals and journal daily. Other weeks, I eat cereal for dinner and stare at the ceiling.

And that’s not failure — that’s rhythm.

🌀 The Problem with Chasing Perfect Balance

When I tried to “balance” everything:

• I micromanaged my calendar
• I said yes to too much and then resented it
• I felt guilty for resting, and anxious when I worked too much

I was trying to keep every plate spinning, but I didn’t realize I had too many plates in the first place.

🌿 What I’m Learning Instead:

1. 

Balance is not a permanent state — it’s a moving target.

There will never be a day when everything is perfectly aligned. The key is adjusting with grace, not guilt.

2. 

Rest doesn’t have to be earned.

I used to rest only after finishing everything on my list. Now I rest because I’m human. That’s enough.

3. 

Some areas need more in certain seasons — and that’s okay.

Right now, relationships might need more of you. Or your health. Or your creativity. It won’t always be like this.

4. 

Saying no is part of staying steady.

Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re stabilizers.

5. 

I feel more whole when I allow imbalance.

Some of the most meaningful growth in my life came when things were off-kilter — but I showed up anyway.

💭 So What Is the Goal?

Not balance — but awareness. Flexibility. Honesty. Kindness toward yourself.

The goal is to live your life in a way that’s responsive, not rigid.

To recognize when things are off and choose small edits that help you feel like you again.

To stop chasing perfect harmony and start honoring real life.

💬 What About You?

Have you been chasing balance, too?

Or are you learning to lean into rhythm instead of rigidity?

I’d love to hear what “balance” means in this chapter of your life.

– M.E