Remember the old song, "Don’t Worry, Be Happy"? That phrase drives me nuts. Don’t ever worry, just be happy? I beg to differ. As a state of being, happiness is awfully fleeting, incredibly mischievous, and not at all reliable. That’s because happiness is actually just a symptom of a well-balanced life. We’re just not always going to be happy, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be miserable. I prefer working towards balance rather than bliss; balance brings with it every essential you need to be well, content and satisfied (which does, quite frequently, include bliss).
If you are one of the rare souls to have come down with a Balanced Life, you may find yourself experiencing one or all of the following symptoms.
Signs of a balanced life include:
1. Health (rather than sickness and disease)
2. Contentedness (rather than striving and comparison)
3. Abundance (rather than deprivation and loss)
4. Wellness (rather than discomfort and struggle)
5. Inner Peace (rather than fear and regret)
6. Self Assurance (rather than self doubt and judgment)
7. Humor (rather than taking everything seriously)
8. Openness (rather than defensiveness)
If you, too, would like to "catch" a balanced life, here’s how you can get it. But be warned: it’s highly contagious.
GIGO. Be aware of what you take from and give back to the world. If you know you can do better, then do so. This holds for material and energetic exchanges, both.
Wear your body well. It’s your highest performance vehicle, right? Treat it better than you treat your car, at the very least! I’m amazed how few of us really do this.
Love thy neighbor. And everybody else around you. After all, they’re only here to show you something about yourself. Are you taking notice? This is easy enough for people we like, but tough for those we don’t get along with. Here’s a trick: pray for those you dislike. I don’t mean pray to God if that’s not your thing. But simply meditate on that person with thoughts of kindness. One of my friends cries tears of relief when she does this and finds she is able to release the anger and show kindness – and the object of her thoughtfulness is easier to deal with. It never fails. Prayer serves as a release; the same for forgiveness. It’s not about letting the other person "win"; when you show compassion, you win. Try it.
Respect your boundaries, respect your self. Don’t say yes when you don’t want to, and don’t feel guilty about saying no. You know those nagging doubts, the guilt, the irritation weighing you down like soggy sandbags? That’s your inner voice reminding you that you aren’t being authentic. All you have to do is be yourself. Honest! Sometimes we forget, especially because we all tend to wear many "hats" every day.
S – l – o – w d – o – w – n. Seriously, stop and smell the roses. Look around you, take a breath. This is life, you might as well pay attention!
Cultivate an Equanimous Mind. Sh*t and bliss both happen. You can flail in the emotional waves, or maintain equilibrium through it all.
I think we’re long overdue for a follow-up single called, "Don’t Worry, Be".
– with additional reporting by Sara Ost
Image: Joshua Davis
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