Balance Isn’t Real

Let’s talk about “balance”. I can remember a few years ago a friend of mine asked a question about balance on her social media account and I asked her, “What is this thing called ‘balance’ you speak of?” Balance is a word that I’ve seen thrown around a lot, and it’s become this elusive thing that we as women are always trying to attain.

What is Balance?

Let me let you in on something that I’ve learned. Balance isn’t real. The whole idea is a farce. Balance is impossible for us mear humans. I mean think about the word itself, in order to achieve true balance it requires that you give things equal weight or equal significance. Ha! If I’m honest with myself, there’s not going to be any day where I do everything well. 

I used to be so hard on myself for not maintaining this perfectly “balanced” life. When you look at Pinterest and Instagram, you think, “Wow, those wives & mothers have it all together, all the time. They are so balanced.” Nope, that is not the truth. In reality, no one has everything all together, no matter what they portray. And even the idea that we have to make it look like we are so balanced is incorrect. Life supposed to have seasons. There is always an ebb and flow to it. 

If Not Balance, Than What?

Well over the last few years, there has been a shift within my heart, mind, and spirit. I am so thankful for the example of perfection in Jesus, but I’m equally thankful that through His perfection, I am covered by grace. And with that grace, we have to eliminate the pressure and the expectation that we are going to be able to accomplish all the things every day and that they are all going to be executed perfectly. I choose grace over perfection. Because if we don’t give ourselves some grace, guilt will begin to set in. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Instead of trying to bring balance to my life (which is impossible), I’ve learned to prioritize my life. And more importantly, I’ve learned that not everything is a priority even though it may feel like it is at the time. You have to take some time to stop and pray (if you don’t pray, just stop and meditate.) Guage the temperature of where your life is and decide what’s important to you. Decide what’s attainable for you in the current season of life. That is going to look different for everyone, and there isn’t one “right way” to do it. For me, it meant leaving my job to be a SAHM again. For you, it may be very different. Invest your time in the things that matter most to you, and know it’s ok that every day is not going to be balanced or perfect.

So there may be a day where everyone has a bowl of cereal for dinner because cooking didn’t make it to the top of the priority list that evening. Or there may be a day when the dishes stay in the sink overnight because instead of loading the dishwasher when all the kids went to bed, I grabbed some sleep too. And I have to be ok with the fact that I can’t do it all, all the time. But what I can do is be sure that somewhere near the top of that priority list every day is time for me to stop and breathe. Don’t let “balance” be an impossible standard that you set for yourself. Be kind and give yourself grace.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on “balance”.  Share your thoughts in the comments.