(A reminder that balance requires flexibility)
In today’s fast-paced world, balance can feel like a moving target. Our calendars are full, our to-do lists never-ending, and for every task we cross off, two more appear. We know it’s essential to carve out time for ourselves, to rest, recharge, and protect our energy, but even then, guilt creeps in, whispering that we’re neglecting something important. No wonder we end up chasing balance like it’s some elusive prize.
In this week following the Autumn Equinox, we are given a beautiful reminder of perfect balance in nature. The day and night share time equally before we wade into the months of ever-lengthening starlight. The equinox balances us on the point of a pin, the centre of the fulcrum. But as we forgo that halfway point and tip into the autumn months, we remember that this, too, is a balancing. There is a concession of fewer daylight hours following the long, sun-steeped summer; an understanding that though the nights ahead will stretch out and out and out, the light will return again soon.
True balance doesn’t come from forcing productivity or straining to keep every ball in the air. It comes from knowing when to give and when to take. From allowing ourselves flexibility. Our time is finite, but how we choose to spend it is in our hands. Some days, that might mean pushing forward with focus and determination. Other days, it might mean gathering with friends, soaking in laughter and connection. And sometimes, it simply means giving ourselves permission to rest.
Of course, this all sounds simple. Almost too simple. But here’s the truth: when we strive for balance, what we’re often striving for, secretly, is perfection. We measure ourselves against carefully curated glimpses of other people’s lives: the spotless homes, glowing smiles, inspiring hobbies. And though a part of us knows it can’t all be true, it seems so right that life should be as effortless as it appears from the outside. So, when our balance wobbles, we fall into judgement. We make good the enemy of perfection and push ourselves to be better, best. We trade “good enough” for “never enough.” We overfill our days with 5 a.m. workouts, work deadlines, side hustles, meal prep, laundry, and endless striving. We overextend and overpromise ourselves. We deny ourselves the grace of flexibility.
But even the earth itself cannot live in endless summer. A field must lie fallow before it can return to fertility and fruitful harvest. A period of rest is an essential exchange for labour. So, when you feel yourself struggling to grant permission to be imperfect, to be human, remember this: perfect balance is rare. Even our planet only achieves it twice a year. Why should we expect more of ourselves?
Balance isn’t about perfection, it’s about adaptability. It’s about honouring the rhythm of your own seasons, and knowing that rest, play, work, and connection all have their time. Happiness comes not from holding it all in perfect symmetry, but from finding peace with the natural ebb and flow.
