“Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?” – Miyagi Nariyoshi – Miyagi-do Karate
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Balance obviously means something different to everyone, yet most of us are seeking it in some way or another.
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Balance is not something we can get; it’s a state of mind. It’s the realization that life is not stable but in constant motion. The paradox of balance is that, the more we pursue it, the more things seem to fall apart. As an example, our worries make us worry more.
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You have to practice self-discipline. Even though discipline sounds like the opposite of balance, it’s one of the best tools to help you feel on top of things. Without self-discipline, we often waste time, procrastinate, and fail to follow through with things. This only makes us feel overwhelmed, guilty, and totally unbalanced.
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Balance is bringing things into harmony, something that you continually do. Balance is not a destination, but a constant journey. And the the best way to find balance, is to let go of our need to be in control.
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“….balance good, karate good, everything good.” Although this was just one of the lessons that Mr. Miyagi was teaching Daniel about karate, it was also a lesson for life.
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Life is very much a balancing act, and we are always just a step away from a fall. We are constantly trying to move forward with purpose, to achieve our goals, all the while trying to keep in balance the various elements of our lives.
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If any aspect of our life draws a disproportionate amount of energy, we have to shortchange the other aspects. That throws us off—and we are unable to move forward on life’s tightrope until a balance can be reestablished. We have to deal with any areas that are taking too much energy and put them in perspective, align them, so that we have energy available for all areas.
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It’s up to us to balance all the different aspects of our lives. We just have to decide to do it. 
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“One day your heart will stop beating and none of your fears will matter. What will matter is how you lived.” – Henri Junttila