What Balance Really Means (and Why It’s Always Changing)

We talk a lot about balance—work-life balance, emotional balance, hormonal balance, balanced meals, balanced schedules. It’s one of those words that feels inherently good, like something we should all be striving for. But here’s the thing: balance isn’t a fixed point. It’s not a destination you arrive at and get to stay in forever, arms crossed, hair unbothered, sipping tea in total alignment.

Balance is a verb. It’s an ongoing process, a practice. And most days, it’s not symmetrical.

Balance is Contextual

There have been seasons of my life where balance meant keeping an hour for myself each morning. There have also been seasons where balance looked like ordering takeout three days in a row because I just didn’t have the capacity to cook and that was the kindest choice I could make.

Balance shifts with your circumstances. It depends on your energy, your responsibilities, your relationships, your health, your everything. What felt balanced a month ago might feel overwhelming today—or vice versa. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means you're evolving.

Balance Isn’t About Doing Everything Equally

Let’s break the myth: balance doesn’t mean giving everything in your life the same amount of time, energy, or attention. That’s a fast-track to burnout, not equilibrium.

True balance asks, “What matters most right now?” and lets everything else adjust accordingly. Some days, balance means prioritizing your kids. Other days, it might mean prioritizing rest. Or joy. Or stillness. Or a spreadsheet, if that’s what’s on deck.

Balance is about discernment, not distribution.

Your Inner Compass Matters More Than Any Calendar

You can read all the productivity books and try all the planners in the world (trust me, I’ve been there), but the real magic happens when you start tuning into you.

Your body, your moods, your rhythms—they hold information. The moments when you feel scattered, stretched, or short-tempered? They’re data. The days when things feel light and aligned? Also data. Balance becomes possible when we actually listen and respond accordingly—not rigidly, but responsively.

Balance Is a Dialogue, Not a Formula

So what if, instead of chasing perfect balance, we practiced being in conversation with ourselves?

Ask:

• What feels out of alignment right now?

• What needs more care?

• What needs less control?

• Where am I overcomplicating things?

You don’t have to overhaul your life to create balance. You just have to stay in relationship with it.

Let It Be Dynamic

Here’s your permission slip: balance isn’t about maintaining a constant state—it’s about moving with intention through shifting states. Like a dancer adjusting to the music. Like a tide responding to the moon.

If your version of balance looks different today than it did last week, that’s not a failure. That’s life doing what life does. And that’s you, adapting with grace.

You’re allowed to change. Your needs are allowed to shift. And balance? It’ll meet you where you are—if you’re willing to listen.