Iβve got a busy life…
I know, everyone says that. But lately, I have felt like I have been way busier than I am comfortable with. I have a HUGE family, I think 4 kids, a husband, and a dog deserves to be categorized as HUGE.Β It reminds me of what Spidermanβs Aunt said to him, βWith HUGE family (Oh thatβs right, she said Power) comes great responsibility. β Well itβs almost the same, right? Itβs a big responsibility.
Being a natural born go-getter, I tend to go, go and then go some more.Β That go-getter’s trait can be great in many cases but sometimes it getβs me in trouble.
Doing too much can bring on stress and thatβs what I stand on my soapbox preaching about very often, my friends might say too often. But they love me anyway.
So how do you choose where to draw the line to remain balanced? I can usually draw that line easily. My problem is I have a tendency when I get close to it,Β to just take my foot, smudge it out of the way and draw a new line further up aways.
Are You Pushing Your Own Limits?
Balance is all about making sure you are being true to yourself and giving ‘you’, the self-care you deserve and NEED.
Iβm NOT talking about personal hygiene here. Iβm talking about your Heart and your Soul. Sometimes itβs easy to think we can keep pushing ourselves to the limit because nothing physical is involved. Our brain can take it, right? Itβs not like running a marathon or lifting too much weight before your body is ready.
Wrong, Your heart can break or at least be put out of commission for a while.
I’m talking about your Emotional Heart and the stress you put on this part of you that is wellβ¦ the Heart and Soul of who you are.
Itβs all about balance.
Top Practices For Creating Balance
1. Β How do you want to feel?
If you had a way to look into the future and see yourself the way you want to be, what would you look like? What would you walk like? And What would you talk like? What would your home be like? How would your family interact with each other? Do you all laugh together? Do you play, dance or sing?Β What do you do with each other? How would all that feel?
Now compare it to how you are right now. Are they close together? If not letβs close that gap.
Start by taking some time to visualize yourself the way you want to be. By doing that you are drawing your desired outcome closer to you. This is an exercise I use often while doing The Healing Codes and it really works. I love feeling that buzzing excited feeling when I’m done with a really clear session.
2. Β Stop Producing, You Over Achiever You.
Take time to get out of the house and spend time doing something unproductive. Women are especially guilty of not doing this often enough. They always feel like they need to produce something. That ranges from having babies to laundryβ¦ you get it. Stop producing just for an evening. Learn to relax and just BE. Itβs only for a few hours.
Come on you can do it.
3. Β Give Yourself Some Credit
Itβs easy to get caught up in feeling you arenβt doing enough (see number 2). I want you to sit down and write what you have accomplished over the last month.Β Forgetting to appreciate all you are and what you do is a real downer. It deflates, exhausts and wears your emotional heart down faster than anything else. You are your biggest cheerleader and everything you say or do to yourself can either infuse you with energy and life force orβ¦ leave you feeling flat, tired and depressed.
By writing down your accomplishments you are in essence cheering yourself on. So give yourself that clap on the back and say, β Hell Yeah I did THAT!β you deserve it.
4. Β Be Grateful
I know Iβm pulling the gratitude card out again. AndΒ I do that often. I do it because it is one of the biggest manifesters you will ever find. It opens up your heart, soul, and body for the greatest gifts you would ever want in your life.Β Think good health, relationships, success in business, it goes on and on.

Gratitude is not an indulgence. It is a life force that can catapult you to the highest of lifeβs experiences. Just Do It. Show gratitude in even the smallest of things.
Β 5. Β Spread The Love
Once a day, do something consciously, that you know would lift another person up.Β This could be in the form of a phone call, to tell someone you havenβt talked to for a while that you love them.Β It could be an email saying I miss you. It could be baking cookies for a lonely neighbor. The possibilities are unlimited. When you do something kind, consciously, it expands your heart and soul to a whole new level.
I realize that βBusyβ is a big part of our culture but ‘Balance’ should be bigger. We can actually be more productive and efficient with better balance in our lives.
So Take A Chill Pill.
What Iβm saying is, youβll get more of your stuff done, if you make it a practice to chill more often. Try it for yourself and let me know in the comments below how it works in your life.
Photo Credit to Melissa Stratton Photography.
I’m off to take a chill pill Melissa. Although my early morning walks are great ways to be in the now and get into the flow for the day, there are times…you know what I’m talking about. Thanks for the timely reminders.
Had my cup of morning chill just now π Nice I tell you! Yes there are many times aren’t there? It’s so great that we can all learn fresh ideas and tools to move forward, cope and even grow. I love it. I also Love your latest post girl! It looks like many of us are on the same wave this week π
Great tips for regaining balance. I give too much of myself to my business, especially when the biz is gaining traction and I’m seeing results. This is a good reminder to step back and remember I need to focus on my pregnancy, husband, and me as well.
Oh I hear you Krystal! It’s so easy to do especially when you are passionate about something. Take care of that baby sweetieβ¦ This is such a special time of your life and what a gift to you and your husband.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to hear from you again π
I remember how easy it was to feel overwhelmed when you have kids, work and other responsibilities. Great suggestions here. I always come back to being grateful. Beautiful family picture! Take care.
I know, right Cathy? Gratitude is where it’s AT! You really can’t lose playing that card.
I always love hearing from you. Have a great week and thanks for being here.
((hugs))
You’ve got to “feel right” Melissa. Know how far you can push and pull back when necessary. For me, “Balance” is now an overused term when we should be concentrating more on “feel”. Balance for one person is different for another. When you feel right, you are in ‘balance’, if that’s the way it’s meant to be.
Thanks for putting this out.
Be good to yourself
David
P.S Always work the balance in your favour.
Yes I agree David, that ‘feeling’ is always the goal. It’s different for each of us for sure. I always love hearing what turns someone’s spirit up. Finding what that sweet spot is so important and then trying to create your own special formula in maintaining itβ¦ Awesome!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of yourself here.
OH my goodness – this post hits home . I tend to put aside self-care in turn for more productivity. It doesn’t end up looking pretty and only creates more stress. I’m working with a health coach now and she keeps telling me to put more value on self-care and balance is the key to happiness. this post nails it, great tips!!
Hey Melissa,
Beautiful family picture! I love it! I use gratitude a lot. I feel that by using gratitude I’m able to lift my spirits up and get me to a place of feeling better about everything in general. My rule of thumb is if it’s a thought that brings a genuine smile to my face it’s a good thought, and I stay with it and use that to bring my overall vibration up. Thanks for the great recommendations and message. π
-Victor
Thanks Victor!
Gratitude Rocks for sure! I love it. Whatever brings that smile to raise your vibration is where we should always try to be π
Thanks so much for visiting. I love hearing from you.
I love it Melissa! Really great reminders. A big one for me has been learning to let go of the guilt which is synonymous with not creating. I’ve learnt that it’s OK to let it go sometimes.
Yes Li-ling,
Letting go and not getting pulled into something that no longer serves you is very important in creating balance. Guilt is a great one to cut free for sure!
So glad you are here. I love your thoughts girl!
Fantastic post Melissa! And yes, you are in the HUGE family category (the dog is what took it too the top!) π You are the best person to be an advocate for balance in life. My kids are adults now and my stress level has decreased significantly, but I know that if I don’t put myself first (even a 10 minute meditation or yoga stretch before the day starts leaking in is HUGE.) When I take that time for myself, stopping everything until I’ve created it, it affords me the much needed balance that keeps me full of love through out the day. Thank you for all your love in this post Melissa – this will help so many stressed out mom’s!!! xo
Thanks Karen,
I hope so. So many Moms need it, and Dads too. There is so much in life that keeps us feeling like we are treading against the current. if we could ‘flow’ more and pick up more skills to do so, it would make everything more fun.
I love seeing your little picture here and hope you are doing well. Thanks so much for contributing π
Great post I completely resonate with point 1. I do that more often these days, I stop and ask myself “how do I want to feel” it I am working towards something that isn’t bringing me joy or making me feel great I drop it. To me it simply doesn’t make sense doing things that don’t bring joy.
Absolutely! If it doesn’t ‘feel’ right it’s not where you should be! I love it! Asking how you want to feel and heading in that direction is the best action. It may take steps but we can get there if we just start walking that way π
Thanks for sharing girl!
Stop producing! Yes, you are talking to me! I am constantly on the move and everything I do piggybacks on the next thing. I’m like a machine! I really do need to take that chill pill… a few of them!
Hi Camesha,
Thanks so much for visiting here π Yes, those of us that are passionate about what we do have a harder time slowing down. There is a fine line between that…
Sometimes that drive and passion can be so uplifting… until it wears you down. That’s when good tools to rebalance are a good habit to implement! Love your last article! I hope it reaches many π
Ooooh…I could really relate to numbers 2 and 3. I really love the idea of making a list of things I’ve accomplished in the last month – and patting my self on the back for doing those things. Love it!
I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a few minutes to comment. I appreciate it.
I hope to see more of you π