Myth of Balance

Two days into my wife being out of town, I already ate all four of her homemade waffles for breakfast. So much for moderation. That got me thinking about balance — the thing we all say we want but can never actually hold onto. Balance isn't a state. It's a moment. It shows up for a second, and then it's gone, like trying to stand on a balance ball at the gym. Today, I'll make the case that chasing balance might be stealing your best work. There's a better way to live, and it involves letting go. Featured Story When I was a kid, I was on a playground in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, right by the Susquehanna River. My brother was bigger than I was, and we were on a seesaw trying to figure out how to balance it perfectly. Scoot forward a little. Scoot back. Tiny adjustments. For one beautiful moment, we nailed it. Both our legs were flying. Pure balance. Then he jumped off. And I crashed straight to the ground. I think about that seesaw every time someone tells me they want their life balanced. Because there are eight billion people out there who are more than happy to jump off and drop you. Important Points Balance isn't a static state you can lock in — it's dynamic and fleeting, and chasing it will keep you frustrated. Imbalance is often where your best work happens — when you're immersed, don't interrupt yourself to even things out. Eight billion people are ready to jump off your teeter-totter — stop expecting the world to stay balanced with you. Memorable Quotes Balance is a myth. Release yourself from the burden of trying to maintain it. Grab it when you can and just move on. I have learned in my own personal life that imbalance is actually better. It's just who I am, and maybe who you are too. If you try to balance yourself out, there are about eight billion people who will jump off and drop you to the ground. Scott's Three-Step Approach First, drop the idea that balance is something you can hold onto forever — it's a moment, not a permanent destination. Then, when you're fully immersed and in the zone, stay there — don't break your own flow just to even out the day. Then, when life knocks you off — and it will — embrace it as the swing, get back when you can, and keep going. Chapters 0:00 - A waffle confession and a thought on balance 1:39 - The pseudo-science of trying to balance everything 3:09 - The teeter-totter on the Susquehanna River 4:08 - Lessons from balancing music on the radio 5:58 - Why the imbalance turned out to be better for me 7:44 - The eight billion people ready to drop you 9:28 - How to release the burden of balancing your life Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify If you enjoy the Daily Boost, you might like Notes From Scott. A few mornings each week, I send a short note with something I've been thinking about or noticing lately. Sometimes those ideas turn into podcast episodes later. You can sign up at https://notesfromscott.com. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices