Wouldn’t it just be easier if we all had three heads and an extra set of arms and legs? Sometimes it’s just easier to say yes to working overtime, being the “Room Parent” at your child’s school, leading the nursery at church, and hosting Christmas dinner for your entire family. You can do it, right? You’re Superwoman!
So many times we find ourselves saying “yes” without truly evaluating our capacity to commit. Our lives get out of balance and eventually, some areas of our life are neglected or we under-deliver on our commitments. Balance is having the ability to live a whole, integrated, and fulfilling life in spite of the challenges that life brings. It is important to have balance, because just like a fuse, we can eventually get burned out.
We challenge you to make a commitment to live a fulfilling life by finding and maintaining balance. Here are some helpful tips on living a balanced life.
- Learn to say no, nada, nope, uh uh, no way, naw. It is a complete sentence!
- Find someone who can hold you accountable to living a balanced life. We cannot strive to be balanced unless we have accountability through others!
- Take care of your body: Sleep. Exercise. Eat healthily.
- Have undistracted time alone with friends and family members each week.
- Unlock the chains of technological slavery. In other words, turn your phone off at night and refrain from reading e-mails over the weekend.
About GR Initiative for Leaders
Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders is a faith-based organization created by alumni of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (DVULI). GR Initiative for Leaders invests in emerging teen and adult leaders by providing training programs. Each program uses a scripturally based curriculum to help leaders expand or develop the core values of balance, accountability, empowerment, interdependence, leverage, and diversity. To learn more about leadership training opportunities or get involved with GR Initiative for Leaders, go to www.GRILeadership.org or call 616-301-6697.
Written by: Denise Fase, GR Initiative for Leaders
