There is no life balance. However there is life juggling. I recall a street show many years ago when I visited Venice Beach, California. The performer drew a massive crowd with displays of amazing juggling skills. But the real jaw-dropping moment came at the closing act. This unassuming guy decided he was going to juggle an apple, a bowling ball and a chainsaw. And yes, the chainsaw was turned on! What came next was so impressive and blood-free. The parallel struck me today that the myth of life balance is better replaced with the art of life juggling.
The way I see it, there are four balls to juggle but is not limited to only four. You will begin with four spheres to consider. A bowling ball, an orange, a sports ball and a pearl.
The bowling ball represents health and wellness. You should consider maintaining consistent healthy habits. It’s easy to neglect this ball because the weight of effort required to get moving. Whilst you will find it hard to maintain effort, it’s even harder for you to restore health if you drop it all together.
The orange represents your relationships. I chose a fruit because it is not inanimate and neither are those that matter to you most. You can drop this fruit but it will bruise and sustain minor damage. Continually ignoring this ball of life can cause irreparable damage. The juice pours and for some the loss of broken relationships trickles out.
The sports ball is your job. You can always bounce back from a job loss or career transitioning. However, some people give this ball disproportionate attention as if it’s the only ball to juggle. I say sports ball because you can choose the game you wish to play. Whatever game you choose, whether it be teaching, sales, accounting or a trade, know the rules, play your best and have some fun.
The pearl is the most undervalued ball to juggle. The pearl is your spiritual self. It’s the smallest, seemingly insignificant of all. You must dive deep to access it and it’s usually hidden from view. It need polishing with silence, introspection and self-awareness. It holds the key to your joy and meaning. You could easily drop this ball and get by for many years forgetting you’ve done so. Inevitably, the oyster of your highest self must be gently opened. Get to know yourself. You are worth it.
Life balance is a misnomer. This notion leads people down an illusory path. The better path is to manage your invisible resources. The invisible forces that are at work in the act of juggling are two: time and energy. Each ball you juggle needs attention. How much and for how long is an art. Become the juggling artist.