“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.” Thomas Merton.
Summer seems to have flown by and now Labor Day is upon us. Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the majestic season called “Autumn.” I’m originally a “Jersey girl” and Autumn was surely one of my favorite seasons. In the Northeast, the exquisite colors of fall are simply breathtaking!
I remember weekend jaunts to Princeton and Flemington where you could laze away the day in a charming little café, reading, sipping wine and nibbling on delightful hors d’oeuvres in the crisp autumn air. Roadside farms abound in this area and I would often stop by and indulge my taste buds with a sampling of cheeses or to purchase homemade pies and fresh produce of which those incredibly crisp and juicy Macoun apples were my favorite! Alas, in Florida, the only color changes are the license plates!
Wherever you are this Autumn, on September 23 at 5:05 am EDT is the Autumn Equinox. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the hours of day and night are equal as the Sun crosses the celestial equator. In other words, the Equinoxes are about “balance.” The Autumn Equinox corresponds with the astrological sign of Libra. The symbol for Libra is the scale which is associated with …you guessed it… balance.
Mother Earth fully appreciates this word and she will — quite often these days – make adjustments to achieve that equilibrium.
Personally, having balance has been a challenge for me most of my adult life and although I haven’t conquered this tricky area, I’m more inclined these days to consciously invite it into my life.
How do we achieve balance, especially during times that appear so stressful? Because I like simple remedies, I’ve come up with “The 5 R’s” – a template for achieving balance.
Reflect: What areas of your life are you experiencing the most tension? This is also a clue to of course to where you are most out of balance. Make a list of the internal (mind, heart, health, spirit) and external (work/money, relationships, fun) and decide where you feel most out of balance.
Reassess: Ask yourself; what are your “have to’s” and what are your “want to’s?” Do you have to vacuum/clean/work overtime every day? Prioritize what you want to focus on and why. For example; “I want to spend more time with my friends (a good source of positive energy, by the way!) because I want to experience more fun in my life.”
Reorganize: Make a plan. You know the old saying: “fail to plan, plan to fail.” Without a plan to reorganize your time, you are likely to repeat the same pattern (please trust me on this…I’ve learned the hard way!) Think back to other goals that you’ve accomplished and what tools you used to achieve those goals. Shameless Plug: A Life Coach is a godsend when it comes to strategic planning and assisting you in achieving your goals!
Resolve: To not take things so seriously! “How important is it?” is a wise saying from the 12 step programs. Ask yourself this question before you begin every task and when you feel yourself getting upset.
Renew: Yourself everyday with meditation. I know I harp on this a lot, but truly this is such an important step for achieving balance, inspiration, health and happiness in your life!
Wishing you a magical and miraculous life!
Namaste, Michele
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