Harmony

I’m waking up after an impeccably executed recovery day, my first in three weeks, savoring the effects and ready to launch wholly back into work mode. Why three weeks? Where’s the good in that? How is this healthy? This is about creating harmony instead of seeking balance. There’s a huge difference.

Balance

When we think of balance, especially in terms of work life balance, it conjures up images of a scale, sensitive to minor changes, throwing the whole balance off. We also think of a need for there to be 50/50 for balance to be achieved. Or think of standing. A slight shift knocks you off balance, possibly causing you to fall down completely.

In musical terms, balance is also a finicky, precise measurement. Sound is either balanced or it is not. There is no wiggle room, no alternatives, simply yes or no. And the tiniest change upsets the balance. Think balancing volume between left and right speakers. It is either balanced or it isn’t. Yes or no. Pass or fail.

Harmony

On the other hand, harmony has infinite possible ways to work. There is a ton of room for give and take, to dance with different variables, swap this for that, change the colors, and yield harmony every time. There is no correct number like there is for balance.

This is exactly how it works in music, too. In an orchestra, swap out one instrument for another and you’ll achieve an entirely new timbre, yet there is still harmony.

Life Harmony Instead of Life Balance

Seeking harmony in our lives instead of balance gives us a lot more room to reassess and adjust on the fly. The more we have going on, the more variables at play, the more reason to seek harmony instead of balance.

Three Weeks

As I mentioned at the top, I went three weeks between recovery days. Why would I do that? I’m a stickler for following my plans, never missing days (including rest days). I play hard and I rest hard.

I did it for harmony. I had my trip to Angel Competition Bikinis that required three days – two full days for travel and one to participate in the event. As a result, I shifted my workout days so that I wouldn’t miss any workouts, donated recovery days as event days, and did a 12-day push starting the morning after I arrived home. A dance with harmony rather than a battle with perfect balance.

Harmony is Like Botox

Seriously. Try it. Making the shift from the rigid pursuit of balance to embracing the fluidity of harmony is like a whole body dose of furrowed eyebrow erasing Botox.

As a wife and homeschooling mom of two-kids-at-home-and-one-in-college, the idea of balancing their lives alongside mine is stressful. No two days are alike, even if perfectly planned. How completely ridiculous to think balance could ever be achieved. As soon as one thing goes off plan or expectation, the whole day is thrown off, often spiraling downhill into misery for all.

Instead, with harmony being the goal, there’s not only room but an invitation for the variety that each person brings. An openness to see and hear the contributions of everyone. What a huge difference!

Framework for Harmony

Each evening, David and I connect to review the schedule for the following day, making sure we both know what to expect from the other and for logical planning. But it really serves as the framework. Jazz versus Classical, infinite space for harmony. Days when we’ve strayed from this are evident – we all end up grumpy and frumpy. Thinking through this is a reminder to me to return to harmony in moments like that.

Go Create Harmony

What does it look and sound like in your life?

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