Thank you so much for this insightful piece and sharing your experiences and challenges, and how they led to personal growth and the restructuring of your attitude towards life, and now living it in a way that benefits you and your family.
I've experienced severe burn-out twice resulting in hospitalisation and this article resonated with me and is an important addition to my toolkit for maintaining wellness and contentment
I love this. People talk about “achieving work-life balance” as though balance is a static state, but in reality balance is a verb. We’re all balancing all the time, as you describe so engagingly
Couldn’t agree more with this. I was just talking with my therapist this week about balance. It doesn’t exist. Balance implies that something is about to fall into imbalance at any time, probably out of your control, like spinning all those proverbial plates. Taking a slow approach IS real self care 🙏🏼
Totally agree. There's no such thing as balance, only choices. However I find self-compassion to lighten the load when I feel like I should be doing X but am really doing Y. Having self-compassion, in effect, is what balances out--grounds one from--that feeling of overwhelm.
The title of this piece was so validating! Like, balance does not exist… I knew it! It seems like balance has become another elusive item on the (fake) self care to do list. And that it’s our fault if we can’t attain it. Your definition of slow instead models an ongoing process, reflection and knowing how you respond to certain commitments, patterns and events in life. Thank you for sharing yours so I can get to know my own!
When you are really good at something, you will find yourself wanting to do that something more and more. Be careful. Taking is Slow is wise as you adjust to your new balance. Thank you for sharing.
Yes to all of this. The boundaries we have to set as people with sensitive bodies and hearts is very, very real when you're traveling. I've had to find my way, take a few steps back, and find my way again when it comes to all of this, and you're right, balance isn't the right way to look at this, because it can't be...balanced. We hold it, care for it, ask our bodies what they need, start all over again. I'm so grateful for you. And always here to support you!
I identified with this a lot! The need for some slow time after busy days of travel, down to the contemplating a gym membership for a 3rd space community! Thank you.
appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment. gym as third space had not occurred to me until I started ! I forgot to add that our Y has swim classes for kids, childcare, etc. Really such a nice example of what we would want a third space to be
I love how you label things. To put a word on relatable stuff is so helpful. How you ended your post explaining how you correlated slow into a ….how did you put it…a flexible way. Powerful. Thank you.
I loved having no “answer “ and no clean resolution in these reflections. It’s SO REAL. And it feels so important to acknowledge that - so that we can all feel free to stop chasing the illusion 💜💜
Thank you so much for this insightful piece and sharing your experiences and challenges, and how they led to personal growth and the restructuring of your attitude towards life, and now living it in a way that benefits you and your family.
I've experienced severe burn-out twice resulting in hospitalisation and this article resonated with me and is an important addition to my toolkit for maintaining wellness and contentment
.
Extremely insightful. Thank you again
- Permission to Stop
- Permission to Play
- Permission to Go Internal
Dx
I am so glad to hear that it helped you. Hope you continue to spend some time here :)
Love this approach, thank you! Very helpful framework.
thank you Mara for being here
I love this. People talk about “achieving work-life balance” as though balance is a static state, but in reality balance is a verb. We’re all balancing all the time, as you describe so engagingly
Ah thank you Liz. Yes, it *is* a verb.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I was just talking with my therapist this week about balance. It doesn’t exist. Balance implies that something is about to fall into imbalance at any time, probably out of your control, like spinning all those proverbial plates. Taking a slow approach IS real self care 🙏🏼
it really is. thanks for sharing Helen. love the name of your newsletter. xx
Totally agree. There's no such thing as balance, only choices. However I find self-compassion to lighten the load when I feel like I should be doing X but am really doing Y. Having self-compassion, in effect, is what balances out--grounds one from--that feeling of overwhelm.
yes yes. "only choices". though of course, choice is a luxury too, but I think it is there, even if in the micro sense.
I’m curious, when would choice not be there? Viktor Frankl is the best example I can think of for this.
The title of this piece was so validating! Like, balance does not exist… I knew it! It seems like balance has become another elusive item on the (fake) self care to do list. And that it’s our fault if we can’t attain it. Your definition of slow instead models an ongoing process, reflection and knowing how you respond to certain commitments, patterns and events in life. Thank you for sharing yours so I can get to know my own!
really appreciate you taking this in so deeply Meredyth. xx
When you are really good at something, you will find yourself wanting to do that something more and more. Be careful. Taking is Slow is wise as you adjust to your new balance. Thank you for sharing.
yes . thank you susan. its easy for the eyes to be bigger than the belly. xx
Yes to all of this. The boundaries we have to set as people with sensitive bodies and hearts is very, very real when you're traveling. I've had to find my way, take a few steps back, and find my way again when it comes to all of this, and you're right, balance isn't the right way to look at this, because it can't be...balanced. We hold it, care for it, ask our bodies what they need, start all over again. I'm so grateful for you. And always here to support you!
Ah thank you for this Kaitlin. “We hold it, care for it, ask our bodies what they need, start all over again” - brilliant as per usual
I identified with this a lot! The need for some slow time after busy days of travel, down to the contemplating a gym membership for a 3rd space community! Thank you.
appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment. gym as third space had not occurred to me until I started ! I forgot to add that our Y has swim classes for kids, childcare, etc. Really such a nice example of what we would want a third space to be
I love how you label things. To put a word on relatable stuff is so helpful. How you ended your post explaining how you correlated slow into a ….how did you put it…a flexible way. Powerful. Thank you.
I loved having no “answer “ and no clean resolution in these reflections. It’s SO REAL. And it feels so important to acknowledge that - so that we can all feel free to stop chasing the illusion 💜💜