Maintaining balance will be the key to you reaching your potential.
Firstly I would like to acknowledge — it can be difficult with responsibilities, children, housework, social commitments, care giving commitments. There are going to be times in life where reaching your potential in different areas will slip. However, this does not have to be all of the time.
Communicating with the people you choose to surround yourself with — at a time where you wish to adapt and grow — will be necessary. Making yourself vulnerable through communication will be your key to success. Making those people aware of the plates that are dropping during your struggle to maintain balance. What you are struggling to achieve. The commitments they may have to take off your hands. The emotional impact you are experiencing — positive and negative.
The people around you should be supporting, celebrating and pushing you forward — not holding you back from your dreams, happiness and achievements.
Which is where you can't underestimate the energy you are giving to others — outsourcing your energy has a limitation. Health, Wealth, Relationships — spinning all plates, wanting perfection or calm in all three areas has to stay in your dreams. I can assure you it just is not possible. If you want to reach your potential in an area of your life, understanding balance is key. This is what will allow you to have focus while having a flexible mindset to adapt, take time, and make adjustments to your priorities with a calm mind.
When we don't have calm in the mind our nervous system struggles to regulate, leaving us with the thought: Will life ever just stop for a moment?
That feeling often comes when we are put in a learning phase of life. This can bring emotions strong enough to create thoughts that don't make sense to you — filling you with upset, anger, confusion, delusion, doubt. This phase of your life will pass and I encourage you to be patient. Journal, talk to a loved one, move your body, feed yourself with nutritious foods, ask a friend to stay the night or hug your partner tight. This growth phase is not one you have to do alone.
A personal note
I have always been one to want to hit a target — sales, salary, weight — because I was in desperate need to prove my success to people that I shouldn't have to 'prove' anything to. This meant I suppressed my feelings, was in toxic relationships, and in jobs that were ethically below my worth. I was always chasing the next thing in an attempt to forget what I really needed to address.
As soon as I decided to take a stand — ending that toxic relationship that was mentally degrading me, leaving the job that was making me feel like a needle in a haystack, and starting to prioritise myself over friendships that only wanted me when it suited them — I hadn't even been able to see it was happening in all of the chaos. The only way I stopped the chaos was to do the hard thing: communicating.
The clarity and realisation I now have takes me right back to when I remember starting to feel this way at the age of 10. The child trauma. The friendships that didn't work. The subjects I enjoyed most at school. The topics I went on to study. The jobs I decided to take. It all led me here — to a job that reflects every part of my studying, career path, and passions, working to give back to a community, empowering their beliefs.
This is your calling to ride the wave you are on. Some won't be as smooth as others — but resist your gut instinct and the journey will only be turbulent. Follow it and you will soon have a clear path of where you belong.
Taking care of the three elements of health
Your mind — Practising mindfulness, self-care, seeking emotional support when needed and engaging in activities that bring joy and reduce stress.
Your body — Regular physical activity and a balanced diet work hand in hand. Exercise boosts mood, improves heart health and increases energy. Eating a nutritious, whole food diet provides the necessary fuel for your body to function and feel its best.
Your spirit — Connecting with something larger than yourself, whether through meditation, prayer, spending time in nature or joining a meaningful community. It's about finding a sense of purpose and inner peace.
With every aspect of health being interconnected, when one is out of balance, it affects the others. Nurturing all three allows you to exist in a harmonious state.
Synergy — Your mental health can impact your physical wellbeing. Stress and anxiety can manifest as physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues. Keeping your mind healthy through meditation, therapy, or mindfulness can improve your overall wellbeing.
Awareness — Paying attention to the interconnection of mind, body, and spirit can help you become more self-aware. Understanding how these aspects influence each other allows you to make conscious choices that enhance balance.
Holistic Approach — By addressing the needs of your mind, body, and spirit simultaneously, you treat yourself as a whole being rather than focusing on isolated problems.
Resilience — Building strength in all three areas can enhance your resilience to stress, challenges, and life's ups and downs. When your mind, body, and spirit are in balance, you are better equipped to navigate difficulties with grace.
Where are you now on your path to growth?
- Comfort — You are balancing the pillars of life (Health, Wealth, Relationships, Personal) which is bringing you a sense of contentment.
- Stand up for your happiness — From the previous phase of comfort you had time to gain clarity on what no longer brings you happiness. You communicate your feelings and needs.
- Change — You make adjustments to your pillars of life, with the aim to regain balance.
- Embrace your vulnerabilities — You bring awareness and understanding to your feelings and the emotions that change has exposed.
- Discomfort — When we experience times of change we can often doubt ourselves. You have to have the strength and trust in yourself to overcome the discomfort, as much as you will want to go back to comfort.
- Let go — Bringing forgiveness to the pain that was exposed from the change, having gratitude for the now to allow yourself to let go of the past.
- Acceptance — Being aware of the reasons for needing change and having understanding of your decisions.
- Trust your intuition — Trust the feelings you have within you. If you feel anxiety, that is your body telling you something needs to change. If you feel calm and a strong sense of self, you are on the right path.
- Growth — You are embodied in your authentic self, allowing you to excel.