Perhaps too much of everything is as bad
as too little.

Edna Ferber

Imagine your life as a what the Buddhists refer to as the “wheel of life” and you are its “hub,” or center. Each spoke on your wheel represents a different aspect of your life: relationships, work, health, finances, spiritual growth, social activities and so forth. Is your wheel balanced or are one of the spokes getting more attention than the rest? Like a wheel that is meant to rotate smoothly with each revolution, we are happiest when our lives are flowing smoothly because we are in balance.

You’ll know when you’re out of balance; life will feel heavy, your energy will be lower than usual and your enthusiasm for life may be missing. The problem may not necessarily be that there’s anything wrong, but that you’re overly focused on one area while neglecting others that are equally important to your well-being. Which area might that be, you wonder? Well, it’s usually the one that you’re constantly thinking about, worrying about and probably talking about. Most likely it’s the one that your friends are tired of hearing about.

Sometimes we need to put the majority of our focus on one area while we’re working through something critical. This might include a recovery process or addressing some issue or crisis that needs our attention right now. However, that is usually the exception.

For example, a few months ago, I delved into a three month period of intense meditation and spiritual practice. For 90 days I meditated upon waking, in the mid-afternoon, before dinner and right before going to bed at night. I completely changed my schedule to accommodate all of the meditations and contemplation because I felt a strong desire to connect with my deepest self and to experience some significant internal shifts, which I did. However, I could not have kept up that pace forever. After 90 days it was time for me to reduce the amount of spiritual practice and integrate the other areas of my life back into my “wheel.” Spending time with others, working with clients, traveling, having fun – these are all integral to my living life to its fullest and having a sense of balance. The 90 days of intense spiritual practice was akin to fasting for it allowed me to release what no longer served my highest good which led to a more balanced lifestyle.

When I’m teaching workshops and pose the question, “Where are you most out of balance?” the response I get typically here is, “I’m not having enough fun.” As spring unfolds into summer and we’re touched by longer days of sunshine, notice if it’s time to add more fun into your life. The color yellow matches the color of the sun and symbolizes the qualities of humor, playfulness and cheer. It reminds us to “lighten up.” If it’s time for you to experience more lightness in your life, be willing to create a better balance. Develop and focus on the spokes in your wheel of life that have been neglected. Attaining balance adds greater harmony and helps us to be hopeful and optimistic about the good in our lives. Vital optimism is a quality that runs deep in us; it’s a belief that the best is yet to come.

Laura V. Hyde, MA, is founder of Infinite Wisdom and has a private practice in San Luis Obispo County, California, where she provides spiritual counseling and soul purpose coaching. A national author and speaker, Laura offers numerous workshops for awakening the heart and spirit. She is the author of Gifts of the Soul and The Intimate Soul, a syndicated columnist for more than 20 publications, a student of A Course in Miracles and a visionary speaker. Laura is the host of Relationship Wisdom on Public TV and a keynote speaker throughout the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.laurahyde.com.