Finding balance in life can be difficult, but not impossible. The American psychologist explains how to achieve this.
Finding meaning in your life, agreeing on your values, having a clear way of thinking, anchoring yourself in the present moment without worrying about the future… Having a so-called “balanced” life is somewhat like a quest. Grail: Although “there is no doubt that such an ambitious goal cannot be achieved quickly or with little effort,” anyone can achieve it, says American psychologist Jim Taylor in a May 13 article published on the website. Psychology today. According to the expert, a balanced life is “an interconnected collection of five different types of balance.” Details.
Health
Physical and mental health is the starting point for “creating all kinds of balances,” the psychologist claims. In order to pamper the first one, the specialist specifically recommends being physically active, engaging in activities we enjoy, “eating enough and sleeping enough.” For the expert, having good mental health means getting rid of mental illness, feeling good about oneself, experiencing mostly positive emotions and finally finding the meaning of one’s life.
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“Balance in you”
Jim Taylor then discusses the concept of balance itself. To illustrate these abstract concepts, the psychologist takes the image of a cake, which is made up of several parts that relate to each separate area of our lives (career, relationships with others, passions, etc.). Together they make up what psychologists call personal identity. According to the specialist, in order to lead a balanced life, it is necessary that none of these parts occupy more space than the other and in a disproportionate way. The reason is simple. our balance can collapse if this area of our life is affected by any negative event. Take the example of layoffs. if our lives are ruled by this space, we will lose our grounding. “You are left with the question: ‘Who am I?’ This absence alone is a serious source of imbalance,” notes Jim Taylor.
Balance in everyday life
Our daily lives are rocked by two types of activities required do and those that we I want DO: “The sad reality of life is that, as Maslow so eloquently put it, we must satisfy our needs before we can satisfy our wants,” says the psychologist. In practice? Therefore, our energy and our time are mostly devoted to what we need to do, even if that means forgetting or letting go of our desires. However, our passions, whether physical, mental, artistic, or spiritual, “are our fuel,” emphasizes Jim Taylor. To achieve a certain balance, the expert advises trying to prioritize these activities, which are “sources of meaning, fulfillment and joy.”
Relative balance
“As social creatures, our ability to maintain balance in our lives (also) means maintaining balance in our relationships.” The stability of this relationship depends on “each person’s personality, needs, experiences, and goals.” The psychologist notes that there are no standards, some people thrive when integrated into a “small group of people,” while others need a “large social network.” In order to achieve a balanced relationship, the psychologist warns that “each member of the relationship must feel that their needs are met while at the same time satisfying the needs of the other person sufficiently.”
Balance in imbalance
That being said, there is no need to seek the perfect balance at all costs. “It can be beneficial to be disproportionately committed to one activity, especially if that commitment is driven by passion or purpose,” says Jim Taylor. Be careful, though, because such “intense dedication” can lead to fatigue and burnout. Therefore, the goal is to “find balance in imbalance.” In other words, briefly indulging in an activity we enjoy, creating “temporary pauses” that bring a tinge of balance.
Source: Le Figaro
