What is balance anyway?
In Ayurveda, balance is not just a state you reach at the end of some journey. It’s an experience you can have at any moment. You only need to be present long enough to recognize how your environment disturbs you. And know what you can do to feel grounded, peaceful and strong again.
So, first we have to recognize when we’re out of balance.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, when we’re out of balance, we experience cognitive dissonance. It means that we desire one thing, but are experiencing the opposite.
We don’t want to cave in to our cravings, but as soon as we’re stressed out, we do! Or we want to meditate, but never make time to do so!
Ayurveda says that what we perceive through our 5 senses; the food we taste, the sounds or words we listen to, the smells we receive, what and how we’re being touched and what we watch or look at, affect and influence us all the time.
If we’re constantly consuming tastes, smells, sounds, sights and touch that stresses our bodies and our minds, our immune system weakens. We feel out of sorts mentally and we lack the mental discipline and will power to do what gives us health, energy and wellness.
The result is symptoms and disease.
Ayurvedic medicine empowers us to achieve our most vibrant health and radiant well-being. It helps us become more AWARE of how we’re impacted by our environment and choices. And supports us to make changes.
So when do we know when we’re in balance?
When our symptoms have either lessened dramatically or completely disappeared.
And when our thoughts are congruent with our actions and vice-versa.
Being in balance means that we’re experiencing cognitive resonance.
It means that we’re capable of doing the things that benefit us.
And we have the courage to do what’s right for us.
It also means that we have the motivation to eat the foods that bring us health.
We’re in balance when our body, mind and inner-self are on the same page!
I like to call it psycho-somatic harmony!
And it’s also when, more often than not, we’re able to be self-aware and cultivate the attitude of the witness. That means being able to observe our thoughts and emotions, like clouds in the sky, neither expressing, suppressing or giving in to them.
When we give in to our emotions, and eat 2 slices of chocolate cake, later we experience guilt and shame. We criticize and judge ourselves harshly. So when we’re in balance not only do we not give in, but when we do, we have compassion and patience with ourselves. After all, we’re human.
Ultimately, the greatest marker for balance is not how many times someone exercises or how perfect someone eats, but how joyful someone is!
And that joy emanates from you, touches people around you and in this way you’re making a difference in their world.
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