Whats the secret to living a balanced life?

[undeterred]

I really want to know so I can try it some time. :shrug:

[Maestro]

1. I need the secret to that plus

staying out of debt. Argh!!!!!

[SarahB]

2. I has this quote in my sigline for awhile.

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."--
Robert Fulghum

I tend to think along these lines. On the days I don't, I aspire to think along those lines.

[guinivere]

3. Moderation

Everything in moderation.

[WCGreen]

4. A good inner ear.......

[radwriter0555]

5. Living SIMPLY. Finding bliss in the simplest, most natural and easiest

of things.

Find joy in what's around you. But travel, see the world from the street corner in Paris, the Avenida Quinta in Playa del Carmen, in a market in Beijing.

Plan your life around your vacations, not your vacations around your work.

Work is NOT important. Family, friends and home are.

Keep it simple. Love often, and say it to someone every single day. Someone who says it back to you.

No drama. Just life. Enjoy it...

[hippywife]

10. Very well said.

Realize, too, that there are things that you cannot change or control and let them go.

[Deja Q]

6. Lithium

[crispini]

7. Chocolate.

Vitamins.
Yoga.
Nutrious organic food.
Meditation.

I'm sure there's more, but these help. :7

[johnnie]

8. Just breathe

[nutsnberries]

9. breathing is good

...that's what i say. :)

[skygazer]

11. Avoiding stress

That one always cracks me up - my doctor tells me to avoid stress. How the hell do I do that? My job is stressful, I have no money, my health sucks, etc. Life is full of stress, just how does one avoid it?

If you figure out the answer about the balance, please let me know. Because I always feel like I'm balancing on a tightrope and it's not relaxing at all. Actually, it's quite stressful. ;)

[undeterred]

14. I've heard that too

Well, I just avoided a really big stressor in my life by quitting a job which was consuming my life and the boss was an asshole. I got rid of all that stress, and now I have the somewhat bigger stress of being unemployed with no savings and no job to go to. Well, at least I did it in a way which allows me to collect unemployment.

I hardly know anyone who isn't stressed, but I would think that having money and exercising regularly allow one to be less stressed.

If I ever have money and start exercising regularly I'll post and let you all know if I am still stressed out or not!

[bliss_eternal]

12. Spend as much time as possible

away from DU--actually experiencing life! ;)

[Jamastiene]

13. Get some new shoes every now and again and make sure

to keep down those ear infections. If all else fails, get a cane. I have one just in case. So far so good though, except first thing in the morning. I ain't too balanced in the mornings. I tend to stagger about really.

[AccessGranted]

15. The Secret is . . .

Knowing how to "flow" and balance. By flow I mean that you have to learn that there are times when you can't control certain things and you just have to roll with them or flow with them naturally. It took me a long time to figure that out.

There are some things you just can't force - for example, your children's paths in life or their personalities or how you are treated in a relationship. As hard as it is, sometimes you have to step back and flow with it or know when to let it go.

As far as balance goes, the best advice I can offer is that is to learn to laugh hard at what life throws at you. It may not be funny but getting angry, acting crazy or sulking won't change things.

Also, don't strive for perfection....just strive to perfect your imperfections. You know who summed it pretty good? Comedian/Actor John Leguizamo. He says that he didn't find happiness until he found somebody who was just as screwed up as he was. He also said that how can you look for perfection in other people and in the world when you yourself are imperfect. Makes sense to me.

That fact that you have the intelligence and insight to ask this question tells me that you are doing just fine and that you'll be just fine (Smile!!!)

[Shine]

19. Hey, welcome to DU, AccessGranted!

I liked your post, too. I agree, we must be comfortable with the ebb and flow of our lives.

Being "in control" at all times is an illusion and to think we have to be is a source of great suffering.

:hi:
Shine

[Az]

16. Maybe not the definitive secret but perhaps some tips

If you expect people to listen to you and respect what you are saying then you have to do the same for them when they are speaking.

Anger never really accomplishes much. In conversations it usually becomes the subject instead of what you really wanted to talk about.

Keep an eye on the goal and do not let your path be detoured by trivial matters.

We all find our own way through this life. Even if you are convinced that another person's way is wrong understand that it has taken them a life time to build it up and they cannot simply discard it overnight.

Not everyone is concerned about the things you are concerned about. Some people just want to get on with living. Other people want to stop and consider the big questions.

It has been said that the unexamined life is not worth living. It really is up to the individual what makes their life worth living. If you feel the need to examine life then do so. If you don't then make the most of whatever it is you have passion for.

Well thats just some ideas off the top of my head. We make the world we live in so consider what you are putting into it.

[Shine]

18. Nice.

"We make the world we live in so consider what you are putting into it."

I agree completely, Az.

:hi:
Shine

[Shine]

17. Great question and one I've thought of posting myself.

For me, being in Balance requires not taking myself so seriously. In other words, to lighten up and remember that simply being alive is a huge and wonderful gift.

Don't sweat the "small stuff"...and here's a big secret: MOST of it is small stuff.

:)

Shine

[undeterred]

20. kicked for the night people

:hi:

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. find that one thing you love

and do it in equal amounts to all the shit you have to do that you don't.

[KitchenWitch]

22. My snarky answer is be independently wealthy!

My real answer is I don't have a friggin clue.

I think one could make millions if they first figured it out, then wrote an instruction manual on it.

[undeterred]

23. someone told me to read

Susan Jeffers book: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

http://www.susanjeffers.com/home/index.cfm

Hey, I'll try anything.

[Gregorian]

24. Balance is overrated.

Balance is something I've never known. Although I can ride a unicycle.

And wealth is not the answer. It just eliminates the need to go to work, and increases the potential for boredom.

The best thing in the world is riding a bike. Maybe that also qualifies as balance.

[bridgit]

25. scientifically verifiable foot-work...