There is a dynamic in life that we sometimes forget: a constant play
between balance and imbalance. We seek stability, of course, but that does not
mean that all imbalances are negative or that we should eliminate them
immediately.
On a path of self-progress, different forms of instability can appear.
We can become socially isolated, work too much, be going through a major
change, start a new job or a new stage of life, or simply find ourselves in a
situation whose duration and outcome we do not know.
Therefore, perhaps the first step is not to fight against the imbalance,
but to understand it. What kind of imbalance am I experiencing? Is it
temporary? Is it a consequence of a voluntary change? Is it harming my life? Or
perhaps it is showing that I need to build a new form of balance?
Some imbalances last a few hours, days or months. In these cases, calmness
and tranquility can be great allies, and also proactivity and creativity. It is
not just a matter of waiting for the situation to end, but of discovering what
I can do while I am living it.
Other imbalances may last longer. Think, for example, of starting a new
job or a new career. For a period of time, it may be necessary to learn, change
habits, adapt to new demands and accept that not everything will be under
control. There, resilience becomes important, but so does the support of other
people. A coach, a relative or a friend can offer a different view,
specifically if one's vision is clouded by the situation.
And there are imbalances that seem to have no clear deadline. In these
cases, it is worth investigating, observing and better understanding what is
happening. Not all imbalances are necessarily bad. Some may be precisely
the track to a healthier, longer-lasting and more authentic balance.
Of course, there are also instabilities that do harm. Toxic uncertainty,
for example, can consume a lot of energy. At this point, self-leadership
comes into play: we can't always control circumstances, but we can look for
alternatives, make decisions and keep moving forward instead of getting stuck
waiting for everything to go back to normal.
Meditation can be another great ally. Not because
it will magically make external imbalances disappear, but it can help us find a
point of internal stability from which to face them in a different way. When
the outside world is constantly changing, having a more stable inner space can
make a huge difference.
Along with all of the above, it may be necessary to look at something
even broader and more impactful: one's own lifestyle. In addition to
meditating, it can be useful to review habits, diet, physical exercise routine,
the way we work, rest, relationships and even the way we are using our time and
energy.
Finally, there is something else that can profoundly transform that
inner space: gratitude. A true wave of gratitude can change how we
observe what we are experiencing. It does not mean denying the difficulties or
reaffirming that everything is fine when it is not. It is also recognizing what
is working, the permanent, the lessons and the possibilities that we still
have.
Perhaps balance does not consist in living without imbalances as it is
customary to think. Perhaps it means learning to go through them without losing
our focus.
Life will continue to have movements, changes and uncertainties. And our
self-progress does not depend on avoiding all these experiences, but on
developing the skills to live them in an increasingly conscious, stable and
healthy way.
