Harmony is rooted in an integrated and holistic approach to life where the activities and occupations of our lives blend together in combinations unique to each individual.
When we think of balance we think of a 50/50 split. We spend our efforts at trying to make an equation balance. It’s not about balance, but about seeking harmony, a pleasing arrangement of the parts of your life that can lead to internal calm and joy.
Ways to help you discover harmony for yourself include:
1. Be clear about your purpose in life. Clarifying your purpose provides focus, direction, and energy to every area of your life. It’s the unifying force that energizes how you live, determines priorities, illumines what’s truly valuable in life, and provides perspective and purpose to all you do. Without purpose life is like a desert wasteland...nothing to see, nothing to do, nothing to enjoy. With purpose life is like a national park...there is ALWAYS new things to do, to see, to enjoy. Will you wander in the desert or take a trip to a nature park?
2. Seek contentment, not just happiness. “Happiness” is dependent on your circumstances. I depends upon something external to your self to bring you joy. Contentment comes from within and provides a deep-seated joy and satisfaction of living out your life purpose. Happiness is fine, but harmony comes when you find contentment. Happiness comes and goes, contentment sticks around.
3. Understand the seasons of life. Life is defined by seasons, just as we see in nature as Spring leads to Summer, which turns to Fall, which gives way to Winter. In different seasons of our lives we will have different priorities. Whether it’s completing our education as young adults and getting established in our careers, to raising a family, to increasing our influence and impact in the work we do as seasoned veterans, or ushering in a new generation of leadership, our focus areas will ebb and flow. When driven by our sense of purpose, they all fit harmoniously together at the right time in the right way.
4. Establish reasonable boundaries. When you are clear on your life’s purpose, core values, and beliefs, you are able to make wise decisions about the use of your time, talent, and treasure. You can support work-life harmony by setting up systems and structures that keep you focused on the most important priorities in you life. The banks of a river provide the boundaries that support the direction and flow of the water. Without those boundaries, the river becomes nothing more than a large puddle. Set up normally functioning boundaries that keep you focused, and flowing, in the right direction of your choosing.
5.Be present. When operating from a mindset of balance instead of harmony, we tend to engage in a constant mental battle of worrying about how much time we’re devoting to balancing one particular area of our life against another. It creates stress, tension, and guilt. Being present and focused in the moment increases our joy and satisfaction tremendously which benefits us in all areas of our life.
6. Live your vision and core values 24/7. Be clear on what's important to you. Your personal vision and core values help guide you throughout life. Having a clearly defined personal set of visions and values is a vital step. The key is to live your values AT ALL TIMES, not only when it is convenient, but most importantly in times of stress. Doing this brings harmony to even the most difficult situations. Now, return to item 1 above and continue this process throughout life.
This is not necessary THE answer, but it it a good roadmap to get your started to Joy. Reviewing our Principles, Protocols, Precepts and Wisdom sections will help you to develop your own vision and core values and refine them throughout your life.