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Synopses
Shaolin Kung Fu is all about Balance, yet just training kung fu and meditating is just part of the overall picture. So what is the whole picture, what does it mean to balance you life and why would you want to make the effort? Shouldn't keeping healthy and fit be enough? For that matter, what does it mean to be healthy and fit and what else should we incorporate to have a balanced, healthy life?
Making the connection
The link between body, mind and spirit has been recognized by some cultures for thousands of years yet, when it comes to health, our approach in the west has tended to focus on the physical aspects and the identification and reduction of disease rather than on the promotion of overall well being. As western research catches up in this area, we are embracing the notion of the "Double Human Trinity" and recognizing that the six areas are intimately connected to our well-being and even outlook in life.
For example, we are now starting to view mental fitness in the same light as physical fitness. We coming around to understanding that we need to exercise our minds just as we need to exercise our bodies. We also know that our mental and emotional health has a direct and powerful impact on our physical health and visa versa. Increasingly we are also beginning to confirm similar links with our social & spiritual health.
It is amazing though that we seem to forget and even disregard the past as a source of learning. It is only now that the medical fraternity is starting to accept home and cultural remedies as a real possibility. Yet, if we look at many of the old cultures, Indian, Greek, Chinese, Egyptian and others, all had some very interesting things to say about life balance, health and a holistic way of living.
Achieving Balance
The challenge with "balance" of course is that it is not something that you can simply learn or achieve and then forget about. Like balancing a see saw, it's something that you have to consistently work at.
Many of us for example would confess to an on-again off-again approach to our physical fitness. We become enthused for a short time until something else becomes a priority such as a project at work, family demands, etc. Further down the track we once again reassess our priorities and begin exercising again. We can experience a similar pattern with many other aspects of our lives - our diet, the time we spend with family and friends, our involvement in hobbies or continuing education, the time we devote to managing our finances, the time we spend resting and relaxing.
Making time for reflection
With life moving at a faster and faster pace, we can find that we're just too busy to stop and reflect/review on our priorities. Workaholics are a good example for the bad aspects of life balance. They are bad for themselves, for the job and for their family and one of the major contributors to re-work, workplace (and home) stress and inability for improvement. These are also the people who do not have time. And that is where the problem is also a solution.
The Essentials of Life Balance
The essentials of Life Balance are simple and in 5 categories;
- Physical
- Movement/Exercise (5 S's; Stretch, Strength, Stamina, Stature, Speed/Coordination
- Nutrition (Solids, Fluids, Air and Sunlight)
- Rest (Sleep, Relaxation & Meditation)
- Mental
- Fundamental (Intuition, instinct and emotion)
- Logic (Information, Reasoning and Wisdom)
- Creativity (Insight, Inspiration and Faith)
- Spiritual
- Me (time for yourself, by yourself and with yourself or God)
- We (Family, Friends and Work mates)
- Us (Community, Environment/Nature)
- Resource/Money (Goods, etc)
- Need - How much is enough?
- Want - When will you be financially independent?
- Like - What is luxary?
- Resource/Time
- Work - 56 hours work, work related travel and education.
- Play - 56 hours for self, family, friends and home.
- Rest - 56 hours for rest, meditation and sleep.
- Persona
- Motive (who and what is important)
- Means (what you can/who you are)
- Method (who you believe)
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Achieving Life Balance is not only the Foundation for a Healthy Life but a significant step to reaching Enlightenment.
Balancing is a matter of practice, a quality cycle!
"Will you make time today?"
"to balance your work, health and play?"
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Just eating right, just exercising, just anything is better than nothing. Yet, if we are able to understand the components of a healthy and balanced life, then we can improve what we want and when it suits us. This is a more successful strategy than most others.!
Universal Life Balance