Finding Balance In An Off Kilter World
Balance is the key to a truly happy existence. When the world spins off axis or our lives are in turmoil stress decends which often means the death of our creative spirit.
In February’s Absolute Write Blog Chain, Kelly of Organized Chaos shared her understanding of balance and how lack of balance is disturbing her life. I can completely relate at the moment with my own life in the midst of major upheaval.
What does life out of balance do to our writing?
Some writers learnt to grow with each curve ball life threw their way. They learnt to absorb the chaos and used it as alchemical riches in their writing.
For those of us still struggling to master alchemy it often means a state of creative void. The ideas are there, the Idea Waterfall never runs dry, but the focus needed to pull droplets of the idea onto the page remains ellusive.
What do you do to restore balance to your life and your writing?
I’ve often found my Seven Procrastination Busters help when life is in chaos. Meditation, music, a hot bath, or a short snooze can help ground my mind to restore focus.
When life is in true upheaval, however, like mine is at the moment then the best thing to do is to get out of lifes way. Let change happen and create a flexibility that minimizes constraints, deadlines, and expectations.
That’s what I’m doing for the next week or so and you’ll be blessed with the opportunity to read some fantastic posts by lovely volunteer guest posters.
Meanwhile, share your thoughts in the comments and check out the other entries about “Balance” in February’s AW Blog Chain.
Next up is: Spynotes
Auria Cortes says:
Meditation stresses me out. I wish that weren’t so, but it does. When I feel proscrastition coming on, I start writing feverishly until the feeling passes. I’m weird in that way, I guess.
Barbara says:
Hello Rebecca,
When life throws me a curve ball, and I would rather be writing on my blog, I catch the ball, deal with the issue, and put it to rest so I can get back to writing. Although blogging is considered a hobby, for me it is also a form of therapy, that works better than anything else.
I use your “Idea Waterfall’, post when I’m feeling creative, and on days when I don’t feel like writing, I have used my WordPress post date feature, thus providing fresh content for my readers.
williebee says:
Balance, these days? … well, picture yourself, standing on a teeter totter. Now, step left. Then right twice. Then left twice. then right three. then…….
LaskiGal says:
OMG–BALANCE has been a buzz word around my house, for certain. I love the Procrastination Busters. Gosh (yes, I said GOSH) I just love your posts!
Arachne Jericho says:
I don’t know if balance is *the* key to a happy existence. But I tend to be extremist by nature.
I kind of think there’s a couple definitions of balance going on around here… or perhaps not. There’s “balance” in terms of constricting your life so that everything is in equal portions. Scheduled balance; static balance. Like a perfectly balanced scale.
Then there’s balance where you adapt to what gets dumped on one side or the other. You don’t necessarily straighten out, but neither do you fall off the tightrope. Adaptive balance; balance in motion. More like a pendulum.
Perhaps I’ve just seen people try to schedule balance in their lives, and turn down opportunities to do something different because it would throw them off-balance (and nooo, we can’t be having that! sheesh). But sometimes being off-balance is what gives you a different perspective.
When I write, of course, there is no sense of balance, because a freight train is probably not “balance”, unless we’re talking the internal balance of writing—which is juggling all sorts of different aspects and qualities and concerns that go into the writing.
Marianne says:
Hi, another AW blogger here. Nice post and good advice about letting change happen and being flexible.
Unfocused Me says:
Thanks for the procrastination busters — I would add “Turn off the Internets” as no. 1, for me.
Meditation isn’t an option for me, because I fall asleep. Instantly. I also sleep on planes, and in the dentist’s chair during cleanings. I don’t think I could sleep through a cavity being drilled, but it isn’t impossible.
Yes, that means I need to balance out my waking time with some more sleeping time.
Thanks for posting on the chain.
Gillian says:
I’m going to lower the tone and admit that when life throws me a curve ball, I eat chocolate. I want a t-shirt that says “When in doubt, eat chocolate.”
Polenth says:
Balance is more of a state of mind than anything else. Some people with no major problems in life feel unbalanced, while others feel balanced in ever-changing chaos.
Colbymarshall says:
I think my most productive hours are spent in the bathutub. Seriously. I get my best thinking done there, and it’s when I’m getting out of the bath that I’m excited to go sit down and write, because my thoughts are at their most developed. Who knows why!
Kelly M. says:
Thanks for your link to the Procrastination Busters. That may come in handy in the future. Sometimes I forget it’s okay to step away and clear my head, rather than force the problem into an awkward solution.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
@ Auria: Wow! I wish my motivation turned to feverish fits of writing instead of procrastinating. It is strange to read that meditation stresses you out. Perhaps living in a high demand, charged atmosphere we’ve come to depend on that buzz of energy and activity. The calm and quiet of meditation can make us edgy or feel unproductive.
@ Barbara: I’m still trying to figure out the WordPress post date feature. I’m sure it works and I’ve been meaning to trail it but I’m always afraid it will just publish everything when I don’t want it to. (Can’t tell I’m a control freak can you?)
The real trick to this method is to write extra when creativity strikes. That’s a habit I’ve yet to master in form.
@ WillieBee: I love your idea of balance, Willie. You’re right, these days it’s more about finding the right way to stay in motion rather than remaining in stasis so as not to offset the perfection of our axis. Alas, living on that teeter totter is stressful, sometimes I’m glad I brought my parachute so I can just jump off for a break.
@ LaskiGal: HEY! I’m a ‘Gosh’ kind of girl too. Whenever I use it in an email it gets the response, “Who says gosh any more?” Well… I DO! *chuckles* Balance is a buzz word around my home at the moment too.
@ Arachne: I love your outlook, Arachne. “Being off-balance is what gives you a different perspective.” I’ve never really considered this aspect.
After living all these years with BiPolar I’ve gone the other extreme. I NEED that stability of schedules and portion control. I don’t force my life or constrict it because you really do just have to go with the flow sometimes but I always feel safer, and accomplish so much more, when I follow specific patterns and create a sense of order in day to day chaos.
@ Marianne: Thanks Marianne.
@ Unfocused Me: Turning off the internet isn’t an option for me. I’m plugged into my phone line. If I shut it down my heart stops.
Having said that, sometimes I do disappear with my laptop to avoid the online distractions.
If you’re falling asleep during meditation (and on planes, in the dentist’s chair, etc.) then it’s probably because you NEED MORE SLEEP! Perhaps meditation would be a great hobby to take up. If you set an alarm you could ‘meditate’ for an hour and feel refreshed and alert when you wake up.
@ Gillian: I eat chocolate too, Gillian. My hips wish I didn’t however so I try not to resort to the comfort food too often. It’s hard to get over the binge eating aspect of emotional downs. I’ve also found the endorphins chocolate provides can create a nasty bounce once it’s out of my system.
@ Polenth: You’re right, Polenth. I wonder what the secret is to feeling centered ALL the time. Perhaps it is in finding a center within our core. If our inner center is always stable and solid then lifes earthquakes could never shake that inner foundation.
@ Colby: I’ve found that water-based routines are idea churners for me too. In the shower or washing dishes. Any time my hands are wet I’m filled with ideas and an urge to write them down. When, oh when, will they invent waterproof pens and paper?
@ Kelly: I think it’s vital to “step away and clear my head” from time to time. Sometimes this excuse IS just another procrastination but I’ve found it helps to allow myself to register what is causing my desire to do everything else. Acknowledging the fear or the frustration is often enough to put it aside and get back to work.
Unfocused Me says:
No doubt I need more sleep - it’s a problem of balance that my four-year-old understands as well as I do: if I stay awake, I have more fun, except that I’m so tired.
And don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely forbidden to turn off the Internet to the house; I just turn off the airport connection to my laptop. Mrs. Unfocused would throw things at me if I unplugged the cable modem.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
I’ve deliberately NOT set up an internet connection for my laptop so that I CAN get some internetless computer time from time to time without causing myself cardiac arrest.
As for the MORE FUN, LESS SLEEP idea. I always thought that was great too. Then I discovered how important sleep is for my mood and general JOY OF LIFE! Now I sleep reasonable hours when possible because I’m more effective, happier, and better adjusted/balanced if I’ve had enough sleep.
Kathleen Frassrand says:
If your body is telling you to take some time off, then GOOD FOR YOU for listening to it. Too often people feel they have to suck it up and muscle through. If you have the ability to just pull out of it for a bit and relax, then you will come back raring to go. You will probably me more creative and will get more done.
Great job in listening to your body and following through.
Enjoy your time off.
The Unfocused Life says:
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AURIA CORTES » February’s Blog Chain Comes to an End says:
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Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
Thank you for the support, Kathleen. While it is wonderful to take the opportunity to rest and relax if possible it is also important to maintain momentum when possible. If you’re completely wiped out then rest is what you need but avoid this excuse being a means to procrastinate. I’ve found, if I take time off it is always much harder to start back up again then pushing forward on old momentum would have been.
Blade off the Feather : Spontaneous Derivation says:
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