DESIGN A FAITH-BALANCED LIFE

My shoulders were tense, heartbeat erratic, and I was set off by the slightest of annoyances. I couldn’t continue living with this level of anxiety. This continued daily for way too long.  I knew something had to change to get back to a balanced life. 

First, I needed to look at some foundational truths that I had ignored. Once I asked the hard questions and got honest with myself, I was able to reestablish the foundations of my faith and restore balance to my life. 

If we don’t have a firm foundation in place, our daily routines and activities will only add to the imbalance. Start by taking a personal inventory and see how firm your foundation is, and then work through the twelve strategies to bring balance to your life. 

Set Your Foundation:

1. Check in with God and determine if you are living in His will for your life. 

2. Take stock of how you are spending your “free” time.

3. Confirm if your priorities are in line with Biblical principles. 

4. Confront the fears and anxiety that stop you from living your God-purposed life.

Effective and sustainable strategies to bring balance into your life:

1. Honor your boundaries and be selective with your “Yeses”. (Titus 2:12)

2. Regularly spend quiet time with God and His Word. (Matthew 6:6-8)

3. Limit your time spent scrolling social media/online. (Proverbs 19:15)

4. Honor your body by committing to regular exercise. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

5. Honor your physical and mental health by setting time for self care. (Roman 12:1)

6. Ask for help or accept an offer of help, when you are overwhelmed. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 )

7. Be mindful of what you consume (what you eat, watch, listen to, read, etc). (Proverbs 23:7,20-21)

8. Actively seek ways to grow, both spiritually and intellectually. (2 Peter 3:18)

9. Accept that perfection is not required and let go of unrealistic goals for yourself and loved ones. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

10. Actively and regularly do something that kindles your creativity. (Romans 12:6)

11. Seek out counsel (from a professional or trusted friend) when life is more than you can handle. (Proverbs 15:22)

12. Be kind to yourself! You won’t always get it right, but each day you get to start again. (Romans 12:2)

Work through these strategies at your own pace. Each one will bring you closer to a faith-balanced life.

*This article was previously published in The Truly Co.'s Dwell issue in the Spring of 2024.