Discovery Points - The Balanced Woman
What is the balanced woman anyway? The term. "The Balanced Woman" is a buzz phrase all of a sudden but there is not much out there that really tells what it is and how to achieve it. Yet, so many of us are seeking it. Let's look first at what it is not. It is not being Super-Woman, it is not being all things to all people, it is not the super-charged, super-focused executive or mom. But why not? For years we were told we could have it all. I guess years of trying it going full-bore have shown us that it is really not all that easy or successful. We have to do it some other way.
I think we are learning thanks to baby Boomer women who have pioneered the way. Many of them took on the Super-Woman or hard charging executive role. Many succeeded in becoming very successful but very few learned to truly balance their lives. A Gen Y trait that makes businesses crazy but that works toward balance is demanding a reasonable work day. Many of these young women don't even aspire to what top executive jobs have to offer. They are more interested in a balanced life.
Where is the middle though, what can you do to have the work life you want and also have a non-work life? It can be done. It takes a lot of compromise and a sure knowledge of yourself, your values and your beliefs. You have to know what you stand for and then you have to go after it even though you run into obstacles along the way. Be very clear on where you are willing to compromise. Set meaningful boundaries and maintain them. Be flexible. Sometimes things will work your way and sometimes you will have to be creative in getting what you want. Sometimes you will have to suck it up and move on.
Here are a few other things I know for sure about women to have achieved balance in their lives:
- They engage relentlessly in self-awareness activities. They use what they know about themselves to leverage the best aspects of life.
- They take time to engage in extreme self-care. They are good to themselves because they know it gives them more energy and capacity to care for others.
- They recognize that balance is an ongoing process and work on it daily.
- They have their values, beliefs and actions aligned and know what they are going after.
- They choose to be upbeat and they live in a state of gratitude.
- The know that life is a choice and that makes all the difference.