A Joyous Perspective on Balance: You have to focus on your strength to really fly.

It's Friday, and time for another Friday Night Thought Tale Hour with the Hendersons.  I have been thinking a great deal this week about an issue that has plagued me most of my life. In ways physical, emotional, and well, you just name it; I have often been an all or none kind of human. But as the years pass and I begin to understand that we all have our limits, I've started to see that I've learned much more about balance than I thought. I wrote down a few insights to share with you all that I hope might help if you find yourself teetering on the edge or flat on your backside.

The most significant insight was one that escapes our focus all too often.

Think about the last time that you almost fell on your face (or did). In those moments of catching yourself, or getting up, what were the first thoughts you had? Here are some ideas:

"What a klutz.."

"I have terrible vision; I didn't even see that..."

"I'm getting old..."

All statements about a weakness you embody. We focus on our weakness in those moments, don't we?

Just to drive the point, take a look at these alternative thoughts:

"Wow, I caught myself. Cool."

"Hey, I can get up. I'm not hurt. Awesome."

"I get knocked down, but I get up again!"

In these statements, the focus was on something about our strength and endurance. 

I always perceived those who could balance as being 

light and lithesome, not weighty and substantial.

But this week, as I realize that I find tremendous balance when I focus on the strength in my body, I followed my conjecture a step further: What other areas of my life am I giving too much attention to my weakness and trying to contain or hide it? Could the practice of concentration on fixing or propping up a weak area be keeping me from soaring over life's challenges?

How about if I made a list of how I'm strong enough instead

 of one full of goals for self-improvement?

And you know what? I didn't have to give up on ways I need to or want to improve by doing this. Because when we find balance in our life, we naturally begin to work on the foibles that pester us in mind, body, and spirit. To explain my perspective, check out a few things on my list:

~I'm strong enough... To laugh at myself when I do something unintelligent or make a mistake, even when others who I don't want to see me like that are looking.

I don't have to lose respect when making mistakes. I can give others permission to know me better.

~I'm strong enough... To reserve judgment when someone misbehaves or makes a statement that I disagree with or hurts me. 

Holding my tongue and keeping my ears open doesn't mean I accept their behavior, it just means I want to understand more.

~I'm strong enough... To say, "I don't know" even when people are coming to me as the expert or the person they trust to help them. 

Letting others see that there is always more to learn will encourage us all to remain open to new information and discoveries.

~I'm strong enough... To be just fine with not being the center of the lives of my children, friends, and humans in general. 

Allowing those I adore to be independent and broad in their relationships means I get to watch them grow and thrive.

~I'm strong enough... To stand by the gravesite of a dearly loved one, and smile at the beauty of their memory.

Loss does not have to pull me over and defeat me. I can focus instead on all that I have learned.

~I'm strong enough... To make cookies with my grandchildren and not eat a dozen of them all by myself, or, not eat any at all.

Food can be fun for me. I don't have to be afraid of it. I have shown that I understand it and how to use it wisely.

 How about you? 

Can you make your own "I'm strong enough" list? 

What would you put on yours? 
Is it about making a career move, improving a relationship, or taking on a new physical challenge? 
Instead of all the ways you are too out of balance to go forward without a topple - 
how about just opening up your mind, heart or arms and fly.

You can do it when you find your balance in your strength.

So tonight, we are toasting to balance with, what else, a layered drink. Each ingredient has a different consistency and strength, but each comes together to find a balance. It's easy to do when you just dive in without overthinking about it. That's what healthy humans do, and that's how they soar. So here's to you taking flight. Cheers, Friends!

Summery Sun Tan Shot***

1/2 oz of Grenadine

1/2 oz of Coconut Rum

1/2 oz of UV Blue Raspberry Vodka

Two drops of Tabasco

(This is what you need for a one-shot)

Fill two champagne flutes with ice to chill for about 5 minutes. Pour the grenadine in. Next pour in the rum slowly through a bar spoon (or an ice tea spoon, long-handled). Next, layer the vodka. Add two drops of Tabasco for a sunburn, or forgo it for a nice warm tan. Cheers.

***Always drink responsibly. Don't be a dingus.