Business Owner, Therapist, Educator, Wife, Mother, Friend, and Daughter
The many roles I have vary from day today. Whether through being pulled in the different needs I have from family, friends, or just an internal struggle I feel to get through the day, I can feel mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted and taking a toll on my mental health. These feelings I’m sure I’m not shared by only myself, but by many of us who attempt to balance the different roles we have in life.
Women’s Mental Health
Attempting to be a helper and/or caregiver to others often times leaves us with little to care for our own needs. This sometimes results in burn out, anger, frustration, physical exhaustion, and spiritual depletion, to name a few. Not that I have figured it all out-I don’t think anyone but Jesus himself has figured out everything. But I know enough to know that balance in life is very important. Giving too much in anyone area can deplete reserves for other areas. I experienced over-exhaustion in my own life due to stress of managing too much at one time.
For me, weight loss, feeling overwhelmed, and not shining as I believe I am created to shine were different signs I was in need of changing the way I was doing things. I have recently made a more conscious effort to change the way I think as well as to make changes in the way I go about handling the different roles I have.
While I am still a work in progress, I am grateful that the challenges have allowed me to take a look inward to adjust things so that I have more to give to others and to myself. What are your thoughts? How do you view balance in your life and what do you do that helps you to feel more balanced and connected with yourself, God, and others?
8 Comments on “The Challenge, But Importance of Balance for Women”
Wow! For a very long time, I thought I was alone in my struggles. It seems that everyone has got it together, It seems difficult to create the necessary balance…especially as a parent. I thank God for those in my life who, from time to time, say things like “you are a good mom/wife”; but at the end of each day, I can pinpoint so many instances of failure. I thank God as I slowly come to the realization that each failure is just a stepping stone for tomorrow’s improvement. Also, together, with other moms, I can -we can- grow stronger.
I agree. It is easy to pinpoint shortcomings, but I’m grateful God sees me in totality. He knows who I was, who I am now, and who I’m becoming- faults and all. Any change is an improvement. 🙂
You, and I are not alone.
I’m naturally always on the go kind of person – I’ve never really understood staying still – overtime I’ve come to respect that it is essential to relax and enjoy the moment and or the season that you are in. When I’m conscious of my overwhelming state – I naturally pray , listen to inspirational music and nap it off. I’m at stage in my life that “less us best.”
“Less is best”. I can agree with that. I’m a driven person at my core, so slowing down is not easy, but as I’m getting older :), I’m learning that slower is good- it helps me to recharge and reconnect.
Thanks for your post.
I really love your blog and this Vibrant Women site. For so long I have been looking for a place of self-expression, reflection, finding balance for the whole woman, which includes, being a mother, a wife, a home maker, juggling work, dreams, goals, and still finding time for self-care, and filling up my own cup before ministering to everyone else’s needs. Struggling with perfectionism, people pleasing, prioritizing my own values while competing with the worlds demands, can be conflicting, exhausting, emotionally draining, and confusing at times. This site is very refreshing. Your blog spoke to my heart and made me tear up inside.
It is very profound, and meets the multiple dimensional needs of today’s woman, especially including the spiritual side of the woman who sees her need for God in the mix of it all. Brining it all into alignment is necessary to be in harmony, and in balance with one’s true authentic, core, self in order to truly shine bright and not burn out.
Thanks for your post. Balancing is very challenging- sometimes more so on the internal than on the external. Critics- be they internal or external, have a lot to say about many things, but thankfully as I look more towards what God says about me than thoughts from others, I can have a balanced perspective about myself, which I believe is crucial before I attempt any external change efforts for balance.
Our mindset guides how we think, feel, and behave, so I’m working more to fill myself up with good things rather than thoughts of doubt or fear. Not an easy feat, but becoming easier with practice. Seeing my strengths and believing for greater and bigger is giving me the push I need to feel good about myself.
As a working mom of 4 and a wife , trying to find balance is my everyday struggle. I often feel like I’m always racing the clock and of course time always win. This normally leaves me feeling frustrated and stressed out but I’m learning to let go and let God. I feel like this should be #movement ? because most women can totally relate to the stress of trying to find balance in our everyday lives.
Yes, the balance is real! I often find myself in a caregiver role and nowadays my own self-care has been put on the end of many lists. There’s an urge for helping others, self-care often gets lost in the mix ?♀️ I’m glad many of you have found time for self, hoping to make it to that point soon.