Balance brings amazing progress. How is your balance in these five areas?

I was about five when I learned to ride a bicycle.  After a few wobbly collisions with bushes, I finally learned how to BALANCE.  I took off like a shot out of a cannon!

Balance is critical to progress in your marriage, family, business, and career.  

Here are five areas I constantly try to improve my balance in:

1. The balance of career and family.

I always get out of balance in this area.  I become consumed with work and neglect my family.

My wife and children deserve “equal time.”  It takes intentionality to shut down work and focus on relationships. 

Try shutting down your laptop for the weekend.  Develop plans for your time off, including quality time with your spouse and children.  Turn off all notifications (or the whole cell phone) when you are at home.

2. The balance of work and rest.

You work to live, not live to work.  God rested on the seventh day.  Your body, your mind, and your emotions need to unwind.  What hobby have you developed that completely frees you from worries of work?  

What day do you intentionally sleep late?  What day is your “Sabbath” to only do what you choose to do?

3. The balance of generosity and stewardship.

Some people are so free-wheeling with money that they never have any.  Some are so cheap that they “squeak when they walk.”

There’s a balance.  Be intentionally generous to pay for someone else’s meal or coffee.  Invest in the vision of your church or a favorite charity.  Use money as a tool to bless the world.

At the same time, be a good steward.  Keep track of budgets, savings, investments, and retirement.  My Dad taught me, “Take care of a penny, and a penny will take care of you.”

4. The balance of mental and spiritual.

We certainly feed our minds “three hot meals a day”:  news, sports, web surfing, video entertainment, books, podcasts, ad infinitum.

We feed our spirits, however, “one cold snack a week!”  Take time for daily Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.  Open your spirit up every day to hear the voice of God.  Clear your mind and meditate upon His greatness, love, and Word.

3. The balance of passion and peace.

I love passion.  I love someone motivated, fired up, highly focused, and energetic.  I try to be that way about the things I feel matter.

I have to balance that, however, with peace.  Peace is the ability to put things in perspective.  I get so passionate about something that I get over-focused on it.

It’s all going to work out.  Ten years from now, I probably won’t remember what I see as necessary right now.  Put your hobbies, your projects, and even your fascination with growth into perspective.

Now, you feel balanced:  family, rest, generosity, spirituality, and peace.

Let’s get up on that bicycle and RIDE!