The Art of Finding Balance

A few weeks ago, I gave a speech on the topic of balance in art and I didn’t realize that it would resonate with so many people outside the context of design. But when I think about it now, it makes perfect sense!?

Life is an art form. It’s a dance between joy and heartbreak, triumph and failure, love and hate, and happiness and sorrow. How you approach these things will define who you are as a person.?

To create a good balanced life for yourself—and for those around you—then understanding how to apply balance will help guide your decisions as they relate to your relationships, career, health and wellness goals, spiritual journey, and so much more.?

In other words, balance is essential to a happy and fulfilling life. And art—whether it’s the traditional kind that hangs on walls or the personal kind we create every day as we live our lives—can serve as a constant reminder of this truth.

In the context of art and design, balance is one of the most important principles. It’s what gives a composition its harmony and grace. The idea of balance is one that has been at the core of art for centuries. If you look deeper - it's a concept that extends beyond the realm of art and into our daily lives.

You ask - how does this apply to balance in life? Even when we're not creating anything artistic, balance is indispensable! Without balance, our lives could be chaotic. That’s why it’s important to find a balance between rest and activity. It’s essential to create a balanced diet that meets our nutritional needs. We need to strike a balance between spending and saving money. Balance is key to maintaining our mental health and emotional well-being.?

We all juggle many different priorities in our lives: family, work, friends…the list goes on and on. And when we try to balance all these things at once, we can feel overwhelmed or stressed out—and sometimes even burnt out. But what if we could find a way to use balance as a tool for success? What if we could use it as a way to live more mindfully and deliberately? We could carve out time for each important area of our lives without feeling like we were neglecting any one area too much!

How do we find and maintain this seemingly elusive balance, here are a few ideas -??

Strike a harmonic chord between emotions and logic

This can be done through meditation or mindfulness, which helps us see things clearly and objectively. Meditation allows us to take a step back from the world around us so that we can see things more clearly than before; it helps us realize what exactly needs fixing within ourselves before making any changes outside ourselves. Mindfulness helps us be more present in the moment and less reactive to things that happen around us, which allows for a greater sense of control over our emotions.?

This balance and sense of control that we cultivate through mindfulness can help us in all areas of our lives, from personal relationships to work. Practicing mindfulness allows us to become more aware of our thoughts and emotions so that we can better control them. In today's fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in the chaos and react without thinking about the consequences. Being mindful gives us the pause button to be more responsive rather than reactive.

Schedule time for self-care?

Making time for both work and play is essential to improving your work-life balance. But how do you do this? One easy way is by scheduling time for self-care into your calendar—something like an hour every week where you go somewhere quiet and read or meditate or just watch TV alone. You might even consider putting this time on your calendar as a reminder to be kind to yourself!?

Set boundaries with work. If you're finding that your work is bleeding into all areas of your life and causing you stress, then it's time to set some boundaries. This could mean setting a limit on the number of hours you work each day or only checking email at certain times. Whatever works for you, make sure that you stick to your limits so that you can have a healthy relationship with both work and play! It's important to find time for yourself, even if it's just a little bit each week.?

This can help you relax and recharge so that you're able to be your best self both at work and in your personal life. Setting boundaries with work can also prevent burnout. By knowing when to step away from work-related tasks, you give yourself the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate, which is essential for maintaining both your physical and mental health.

Prioritize sleep

This is probably the most important thing on this list; if you aren't getting enough sleep regularly, then nothing else matters anyway. You know that feeling of just being too tired to do anything? It's like you're in a haze, and all your thoughts are muddled. That's what prolonged sleep deprivation can do to you.?

It's not just about being able to get through the day—it's about being able to think clearly, and make smart decisions. It's no secret that sleep is important, but what you may not know is that the effects of sleep deprivation go beyond feeling tired. There are many reasons why we need to get enough sleep, including improved memory and concentration, reduced stress levels, and less risk of heart disease and diabetes.?

It's also important to consider the other side of the coin: when we don't get enough sleep, it can affect our mental health as well. Long-term sleep deprivation has also been shown to negatively affect concentration and other cognitive functions. The short-term gains of staying up late or missing out on sleep just don't measure up to the long-term losses of a healthy, happy life.? You have more energy, better health, and a clearer mind when you're well-rested. And that makes it easier for you to do the things that matter most: spend time with loved ones, take care of yourself, pursue your dreams… whatever brings you happiness!?

Finding balance in life, like in art,? can bring a new appreciation for how everything works together as one whole system. When we realize this, we have the clarity and confidence to make each moment count It's amazing what happens when you find balance between your responsibilities and the things that are personally important to you: you feel better about yourself and your choices; you become happier with who you are; and most importantly - you become more present in the moment.?

What does balance look like for you? How do you achieve it? I'd love to hear from you!

Rubina F. Malik is a painter, scholar, strategic advisor, and a global learning and development expert. As a champion of mentoring, career sponsorship and leadership development, she helps organizations enhance the engagement, retention, and promotion of diverse candidates. Competitive edge-driving organizations from start-ups to Fortune 500 global brands depend on her support and expertise to propel programs such as mentoring, career sponsorship and leadership development. www.rubinafmalik.com?

One of my favorite paintings I have done that has asymmetric balance :-)