The Biggest Myth

What is a myth?
"A myth is a widely held but false belief or idea."

What is balance?
"An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady."

As a Chinese Medicine practitioner, I often talk about balance & harmony. I use acupuncture, fire cupping, moxibustion, and herbs as tools to cultivate optimal qi (life force) in the mind-body-spirit.  But is total balance & harmony realistic in this crazy thing we call life?  Or are we all chasing a myth? A perfect story with a perfect ending? 

This tweet from Randi Zukerberg got me thinking:

In just one tweet, she asked an incredibly challenging question...  

If there are 5 keys to a balanced life:

1. Friends
2. Work
3. Family
4. Fitness
5. Sleep

How many can you do well? One? Three? Five(!)?

I'll give an honest answer: At this point in my life, I can only do 2 (work & family). There is simply not enough qi or time in my day(s) to excel in the other areas. Yes, some days I hit the jackpot and can add sleep to make it 3, but nights with more than 7 hours of sleep are truly rare. 

So, why are we all chasing this myth of having a perfect symphony of days spent cultivating friendships, building empires at work, spending quality time with family, exercising & eating well, and sleeping like a log every night? 

​More importantly, what is missing from this list in your life? Spirituality? Simple downtime? 

Chinese Medicine is awesome at cultivating qi, but the truth is no one is in perfect balance & harmony, all of the time. It's a myth, a fabricated story. They key is to pick what is right for you at this time in your life and the rest will follow in its own time.

Implementing an hour of Chinese Medicine into your week can help cultivate qi in your life so that you can remain upright and steady, like a tree firmly rooted and swaying in the gale-force winds of change & challenge.  So, pick your two or three and own the knowledge that it's enough for you in this moment.