Balance

I went for a walk this weekend with someone who reads our newsletter, Jon, and had a wonderful talk.

Something stuck out to me and I’ve been noodling on it since then.

The idea of equanimity, or balance, and what it means in our daily lives,.

Equanimity

Equanimity is a Buddhist concept.

It can often be seen as an ability to walk a path without getting too high or too low. Too happy or too angry.

Instead, we seek to walk calmly, regardless of what’s happening around us. We aim to remain calm and composed, regardless of what is happening around us. React to situations with balance and composure, and recognize that things don’t always go as planned.

It made me realize how much I live my emotions.

If my investment balances are up 10%, I get excited for the day.

If my investment balances are down 10%, I’m completely discouraged for days.

You see one of the problems here, the pain of loss is much more powerful than the joy of a win, which means the lows occur much more than the highs. Depressing.

Ignoring whether we’re up 10% or down 10% and going about life as if nothing has happened is a much better spot to be. Much calmer. More fulfilling.

That’s one aspect of balance, or equanimity, but it wasn’t the only thing that stuck out to me.

Balance

This was a fun part of the conversation.

Jon was jacked. He looked like he was in great shape.

He and my friend Brad work out with the same trainer and what I love about their work with the trainer is the balance.

He isn’t so much worried about their daily caloric intake, as he is their caloric intake for a full week.

For example, if his target calories for them is 1,800 calories per day. He’s focused on their performance against a goal of 12,600 for the full week.

I love this because it’s how I often think. In averages, not specific details.

For example, if I’m off on calories on a nice dinner with friends, I won’t eat breakfast or lunch the next day and have a moderate dinner.

When you start to think about balance, you realize it isn’t all or nothing. It doesn’t have to be. It’s so freeing.

You can have a bad meal, and stick to your weekly calories.

You can miss a workout and still get 3 or 4 workouts in a week.

You can miss a meditation practice and still continue to work on your mindfulness.

It’s never Either | Or, Instead, it can be Both | And.

When you realize this, it’s freeing.

The idea, my friends, is moderation.

To do something you love without worrying about how it will interfere with the rest of your life.

To give yourself permission and grace to pursue activities that don’t contribute to your goal periodically while still driving to your goals.

We only have one life.

If you can’t enjoy it, you’re missing out to some extent.

So, next time you’re thinking of having that slice of cheesecake at a nice dinner, simply remind yourself, I can skip breakfast and lunch tomorrow and still achieve my goals.

Also, ask yourself, where else in your life can you apply balance?

Where else in your life have you been so rigid that you’ve stopped living?