Balance Versus Prioritizing

Balance is a myth. And at times even a toxic myth. 

Have you ever noticed that when people use the word balance, they are most often talking about how they are failing to?

Sure they are words, and can be interpreted a number of ways. But I find that so often the word balance is used to show how we are failing. we lament not being able to balance “it all.” 

Focusing only on the myth of balance can also produce shame…because it is not easily achieved and it inherently involves comparison.  My balance may look nothing like yours. It is a stance that assumes we can control things that we cannot, and that we can do all things. That’s not actually possible, nor is it advisable. 

Balance also puts everything as equal, and not everything is equal all the time.

Balance assumes that our needs and the needs of those in our lives won’t change. Every season brings a shift, and flexibility and health in one season may look completely out of balance compared to a previous season.

Prioritization, on the other hand, puts things in the correct order. Prioritization involves ordering my life.  Freedom comes with prioritization. Prioritization empowers us. If my priority is my relationship with my most important people, then I can shape my life to honor that ordering. 

Organizing what is important to us frees us.

My priorities involve my relationships with my family, friends, and my faith. I order things as much as I can around that prioritization. This prioritization may actually cause an imbalance at times. If I am focusing on individual time that a relationship in my life needs, then I may not be able to balance everything else.

In fact I can’t prioritize what is most important to me if I am over focused on balancing everything. 

What if balance isn’t the goal?

What if prioritization is?