The See Saw - a Metaphor for Life Balance
There’s no secret to balance. You just have to feel the waves. - Frank Herbert, American science fiction Author and Writer.
When I was a little girl, I loved playing on the see-saw– me on one end, my best friend on the other. Up and down we moved, giggling playfully, hair blowing with every push off the ground. We floated up and down with laughter and with ease.
Occasionally we attempted to balance the see saw. We had to find our place in the center, face to face, feet not touching the ground. What a challenge to balance the see saw! I cannot remember a time when we succeeded in finding balance. Frustrated, we quickly gave up, happily returning to the ease of pushing each other up and down.
I see this as a wonderful metaphor for life balance for reasons that include:
Ups and Downs. Like the see saw, life comes with ups and downs – happiness/sadness, busy times/slow times. I admit, I prefer happy over sad, but truth be told both are a part of life. We have to experience and embrace the ups and the downs instead of fight them. They aren’t going anywhere and often we cannot control them. While the ups and downs can be bumpy, frustrating or fast moving, I find that when I allow them to happen naturally I experience and enjoy life more. When I fight them, I’m out of balance.
It’s fun for a while, but then I need a break. Although fun, we tired of the see saw and needed a break. We engaged in a different activity, and eventually found our way back to the see saw - maybe the same day, maybe the next. Much like certain aspects of my life! As much as I love my work and my family, sometimes I need to step away in order to clear my mind! The ups and downs of life can get tiresome – give yourself a (short) break and re-energize. Take a vacation day, get out of the house, go to that yoga class - do something different to refresh your body and your mind.
Let it flow. Trying to find balance on the see saw felt forced and frustrating, resulting in a failed attempt at balance. Gently gliding up and down was so much easier and more fun! In our lives we try so desperately to find balance, to gain control. In my experience this need for control creates more tension, stress and imbalance. When I allow myself to simply “let it flow” I am more at ease and fluid with my thoughts and actions. My body is relaxed. My mind is calm. I’m making appropriate choices. Let go of control and let it flow.
The Bottom line
For me, balance is allowing the ebb and flow of life to happen naturally. I cannot control the ups and downs, but I can control my choices. Tuning in to my physical, emotional and spiritual needs, rather than focusing on time spent on certain activities, provides me the insight I need to make appropriate choices. When I make choices that align with my goals and values, I am in balance. Some days I work more than I play. But as long as that work is part of my overall plan, I am happy with that decision. I am in balance. Focus less on balance and control and more on your choices, and you may find that balance is closer than you think.
This post is part of the Life Balance project started by Stacey/Create a Balance.
Stacey, I think your key line in this writing is - “…but I can control my choices.” Because the truth is, we can’t control everything that happens in our lives. I don’t know “exactly” what’s going to happen when I get up and step away from the computer in a few minutes. Sure, I have an idea. However, I have no control over who I might meet, where a conversation may go, who will be on the next phone call I receive, etc. As you said so well - the things I can control are my choices. And those choices “should” be based upon what, deep down, brings us joy, feels “right”, what your heart speaks to us.
Your analogy of the see-saw is a great example of this. Up and downs, and not really all that often where we are balancing in the middle. Plus, if we balanced in the middle all the time, how much fun would that be.
So “let it flow”….fitting, I say, coming from you! And a great way to look at balance…
Lances last blog post..Life Balance: A Very Personal Pyramid
Yeah! Thank you for participating in the Life Balance Group Writing Project. Focusing on choice has definitely been a theme running through many of the posts.
“I cannot control the ups and downs, but I can control my choices.” – I love this. I agree that is it more about awareness and less about the need to control the ups and downs.
Stacey / Create a Balances last blog post..Traffic Accident - In a Flash
Hi Stacey: I think a see-saw is a great metaphor for life. Life does have it’s ups and downs and instead of struggling against this we should work on our attitude so that we can respond and adapt appropriately.
Marelisas last blog post..18 Ways to be Uber Creative
I loved the see saw too! And the back and forth motion of a swing. I would spend hours seeing pumping hard to make the arc as big as possible.
I have been reading a lot of the articles for this Balance Project and there are some common themes.
One is that what you do has to align to your core values. However, what I find really interesting is that a lot of the posts point to the fact (directly or indirectly) that balance is perhaps not the right word. Like you said, balancing the see-saw seemed forced. And when is our life ever in perfect alignment? Oh, maybe for a brief second or so, but then like your see-saw, or my swing, gravity takes you off in another direction.
Interesting….
Urban Panthers last blog post..Creativity the MacGyver way
The see-saw…up and down. A great metaphor! “In our lives we try so desperately to find balance, to gain control. In my experience this need for control creates more tension, stress and imbalance. When I allow myself to simply “let it flow” I am more at ease and fluid with my thoughts and actions. My body is relaxed. My mind is calm. I’m making appropriate choices. Let go of control and let it flow.” Well said! thank you.
ms last blog post..Change of Heart
[...] Let it Flow “For me, balance is allowing the ebb and flow of life to happen naturally. I cannot control [...]
Stacey,
Yes, the ebb and flow of life is how I best find balance too. The struggle of balancing the seesaw is too much work. But I sure tried when I was young. Isn’t it funny that we both thought of that seesaw/teeter-totter? But it’s a great example of just how hard it really IS to balance it all!
[...] Let it Flow [...]