"Being in Balance"
By Angela Jackson

Being in balance – what does this mean? Could it be feeling emotionally centered, possessing a clear mind, a well functioning body and a sense of exhilaration in our spirit?

Body mind and spirit - We need all three in good working order to have "zest in our step, zing when we sing."

A native proverb says each of us is a house with four rooms: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Many of us live in one or two of these rooms yet to have full life, a life of balance, we need to spend time in each of these rooms.

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to stay in balance. Either my spirit is in good shape and my body is dragging, or vice-versa. It’s difficult to give just the right amount of energy to each of our needs. When I'm writing new material, giving presentations, researching data, answering telephone calls, handling administrative challenges, hopping planes, and trying to be a wife, mother, friend and grandmother, I feel squeezed, and balance is nowhere in sight.

Too often I have so much going on that I don't have time to do the daily physical, mental and spiritual disciplines that keep me centered. Disciplines I've chosen because they make me feel tip-top, operating at a l00%, no matter what's going on around me. So here's what I do instead.

I cheat.

I live in 48-hour cycles. Within every 48 hours I can get at least one hour of exercise - either two half-hour walks or one low-impact aerobic class. I spend fifteen minutes meditating, which in my case means sitting still as I notice the whirl of thoughts whizzing through my mind, simply breathing and watching the passing show.

I stretch my body for a half-hour, using yoga to keep me flexible and I read something inspirational to remind me that I'm a spiritual being in a physical body and not the other way around.

During this period I eat at least one green vegetable, some fruit, grains, and protein and I aim for seven hours of sleep.

I also give myself relax time all by myself, which can mean listening to the wind, or soothing music, or watching clouds or reading a book. All of this is done before or after my working day, which are often ten or twelve hours in duration. The amazing thing is that when I practice these disciplines, when I enter each of my four rooms, I have increased energy and infectious enthusiasm even though I am under pressure and time constraints.

Living on a 48 hour schedule means I give myself room to do my work-a- day tasks plus whatever I need to stay balanced. It helps me feel relaxed, knowing that I don't have to cram everything into one day. You see, I'm a type A personality, a driver, which means I can drive myself and others crazy. Having perfectionist tendencies and a speedy nature, I race from one thing to the next, barely breathing, shoulders bunched and raised, body moving with a sense of urgency. You can see why it’s important for me to give myself some inner space now, can't you?

As I hear colleagues describing the frantic pace of their lives, or the folks I present to telling me that there is such a barrage of to-dos to handle there is no time to pause, I hear the strains of "Don't you know it's going too fast, racing so hard you know it won't last, Hey you, always on the run, you've got to slow down baby, got to have some fun"* reverberating through my consciousness, (courtesy of my seven year old granddaughter.)

I've listened to these words and am changing my habits. These days I pause regularly, and take stretch breaks. I spend some moments breathing deep belly breaths, expanding my lungs and unhunching my shoulders. When I finish a task I pat myself on the back and when frustrated, I call a trusted friend and vent. That way I don’t lug resentment s around which deplete precious energy.

Each day I find something to be grateful for, little things. Like noticing the sparkle in someone’s eyes, or reading the funnies, and delighting in absurdities. These habits keep me primed and relaxed at the same time. Spending quality time with loved ones is regenerating, as is taking mini-vacations, weekends here and there to goof off in.

Finally, being in balance means living in the now. The more we can be here now, attend fully to this very moment with whatever it brings us, accepting the gifts instead of resenting interruptions; the more centered and relaxed we become. When I start worrying about tomorrow I lose today. When I get remorseful or guilty over yesterday I waste my time. This moment is the most important minute we will ever have because it is here!

So, if you're feeling pressured or squeezed by life, why not cheat? Make up a schedule that works for you and use it. Visit each one of your four rooms regularly, enjoy doing whatever you're doing and remember, when you're "caught in a craze it's just a faze!*"

Keep smiling!

Known as The speaker with Heart, Angela Jackson is a keynote presenter and seminar leader who specializes in helping people break through barriers to live happier and productive lives. Her first book "Celebrating Anger" has become a Canadian Best Seller. Angela's topics include:

• "Celebrating Anger" - Creative Solutions for Handling Conflict
• "From Frazzle to Dazzle" - Success in Stress Management
• "Building Wings" - How to Transform fear and Manage Change
• "Working with Heart" - Bringing love and joy to the Workplace!
• "The Power of Choice" - Success Strategies to Live by.

*Spice Girls, 1997, Virgin Records.