We often talk of maintaining ecological balance, work-life balance etc.
Albert Einstein says that life is like riding a bicycle where you have to keep
your balance in order to keep moving forward in life’s journey. It is equally
true that everybody passes through different phases and goes through various
tests in life. You will also agree that the human mind is a powerhouse of
a variety of thoughts and ideas, and our mind acts like a pendulum which
oscillates between two extremes. And, in the process of this extremism, many
times, we forget to learn the basic lessons of life and appreciate the hard
truths that life is invaluable and we can’t have this life again. Now what do
we do?
During the course of his journey of life Lord Gautam
Buddha found a solution to this complex problem of life and propounded the
philosophy of middle path which he defines as a path of moderation between the
extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. He says, “our life
is like the strings of Veena (Lute), the music comes only when the strings are
neither too loose nor too tight, but just in the middle." This,
according to Buddha, is the path of wisdom and balance in life. Brian Tracy
says this in his own way that just as your car runs more smoothly and requires
less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment,
you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values
are in balance.
Interestingly, everybody generally accepts the importance of keeping a
balance in life, but if you look around to observe how many people are actually
putting this idea into practice, you will be disappointed. For example, during
the examination period, even those students who are not in the habit of regular
studies for most part of the year, start making preparations for the
examinations. They know it well that by last minute preparation it is
difficult, if not impossible to complete the whole syllabus. Naturally, trying
to do everything at the eleventh hour does not produce very good results in any
case. Anyway, they are now found to be excessively busy in studies forgetting
to follow even the most basic activities like eating and sleeping on time. This
impacts their health badly. But as soon as the examination ends, they forget
the study routine and get engaged again in negative and unproductive
activities. Obviously, such people fail to have satisfaction, prosperity and
peace of mind despite putting in hard labour and necessary efforts from time to
time. Similarly, some people are found to take extreme steps in dieting and
going to the gym at times to stay and look fit and charming, but don’t get the
expected results. Rather it affects their health and looks negatively.
Actually, they fail to understand that by adopting an extreme approach in doing
things occasionally or irregularly, they can achieve few good results
temporarily. But in order to be a consistent high achiever they need to follow
a balanced way towards life and do things accordingly.
Good enough. We got some good insights. But the issue is still open.
How? Do you know what wise people consider the four most important pillars of our life?
They are health, work or livelihood, money and relationships. Each one is
important in itself, but without taking care of the other three you can’t have
a lively living as a true human being. Now the important question is how to
strike a balance among these four pillars?
We all have 24
hours a day; we all are social human beings; we all have certain
ambitions-aspirations-wishes in life; we all have certain duties-
obligations-jobs which we wish to perform or are required to perform. But how
to manage this 24 hours properly to do at least reasonable justice to what is
discussed herein above; How to strike that delicate, yet effective balance
between the various activities that we are to perform during that fixed cycle
of 24 hours? We may do the following: Divide 24 hours in three
parts with occasional reallocation of plus/minus 10 to 15% depending upon some
urgent requirements. To say, 8 hours for vocation or profession or job, 8 hours
for routine engagements like bathing, eating, playing etc. and time for the
family and friends for social, cultural, spiritual and/or other extracurricular
activities and remaining 8 hours for rest including sleep. Yes, while following
this routine, sincerity of purpose should get its due honour, otherwise we
can’t achieve our life’s goals and lead a successful, purposeful, healthy and happy life.
As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)
