A Better Way to Think About Balance


We talk about balance all the time don't we? And there's a sort of idea that everything should be correctly proportioned. That we have things dialled just right for our:

  • Self
  • Family
  • Community
  • Work
  • Daily Practice

Roughly, I think if you can get a nice balance in these areas, you will lead a good life.

But nothing in nature ever stays the same does it? We're no different.

Over time, stuff happens, things change, people change, we age, we face new challenges, we get bored, we get excited...and all of these things shift the balance in our lives.

Which means, if you want balance, you need to keep adjusting. Think about a tightrope walker. They have great balance, but they are always in motion, adjusting to stay upright.

And so, when you think about balance, don't think about it as a fixed thing that is perfect or sustained. Think of it more like a dance.

If you do that, and keep adjusting, your priorities can change quite radically, while you stay internally calm.

Have a great day, Stephen


PS If you are curious about where your balance is at right now, try taking my Path to Fulfilment Audit. It only takes a few minutes and the results can really help.

HeRO Chronicles

For people who want regular personal or professional development advice from a qualified executive coach.

Read more from HeRO Chronicles

What's the point of a newsletter like this? Don't unsubscribe yet!! There is a point, I promise... From my perspective, HeRO Newsletter is about sharing something I am passionate about: tips and ideas for personal and professional development. And I know that the majority of people like you read the majority of my messages. Because Kit, the platform I used, tells me. So clearly this is something you are interested in. But how do you actually benefit from what you read? I am going to tell...

On Wednesday I wrote a post about running a network where I had authority but not control. Thanks to G, who replied and asked me how you know you have authority. Great question G. Thank you. Let's look at this the other way around first. Have you ever seen an example of someone who, in theory, has power, but nobody pays attention to them? You sometimes hear about managers of sports teams who have lost the dressing room. By the way, I know how that feels. I've had periods of my career when all...

Have you heard the phrase "cultural intelligence" before? If you Google it you'll get a load of frameworks and definitions and training courses. There seems to be a bit of money in it. And it can seem a bit overwhelming. But at a basic level it just means, can you sense what's going on in your team, division, organisation...? Some of us do this more naturally than others of course. And some of us think we're good at it when we're not. If you ever hear anyone saying confidently that they know...