My long awaited book,The Circle of Genuine Meaning is almost complete.

I have just sent copies of my book to three generous people who will be helping me make my project a reality. Svetlana, a professional editor and close friend, will be scrolling through the spelling, grammar and composition. Sonya and Rob for checking that aspects of my book are culturally competent due to the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Native American references. Patrick and Mary are my official Bullshit-ometers who, when reading my book, will make sure that I don't have too much counselling/medical jargon and that ultimately, my book is informative and entertaining. Here is another small offering to give you a taste of what is to come. 

Balance

Too much or not enough of one thing can kill you. Too much water and you drown, not enough and you dehydrate, too much sleep and your muscles can wither and die, not enough and your mind may cease to function as it is intended. This may also be said for those who take any form of knowledge with either too much or not enough importance. Many of us have a wide variety of interests covering any number of topics. It is possible to have too many interests, therefore having our lives filled to the brim, leaving no room in our days for healthy interactive relationships. On the other hand, when we engage in only one aspect of our world we may reach the point of an unhealthy obsession, where every moment to moment choice that we make may revolve around how each choice might affect one aspect of our lives and one only. You might obsess about diet, cleanliness, your occupation, your family, money, entertainment or any number of life topics at the expense of the relationship to yourself or to others. You may experience and eating disorder, an inability to leave your home, poor work life balance, become an over baring helicopter parent, you may greedily focus on material gain or you may throw away your livelihood on a sure thing. The possibilities of destroying the potential for life contentment by engaging in actions of easy, fast pleasure or avoidant behaviours are endless. Life is about being able to engage in all emotions and a broad range of experiences, some perceived as positive and some as negative. Experiencing balance is not about living life somewhere blandly in the middle of security but having the ability to embrace all opportunities knowing that you will have abundant chances and capabilities to regain life balance once again.

“When asked what surprised him most about humanity, The Dalai Lama answered “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, then dies having never really lived.” (The Dalai Lama)

Reflection

·         Are you in touch with balance right now, in this moment?

·         Where do you experience balance in your body?

·         Does it have a shape, colour, texture, taste, weight?

·         Have any aspects of today created unbalance in your mind, body or spirit?

·         Is there a life aspect that is unbalancing your lived experience?                                                      

What needs to change to experience balance?

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