Life Balance Isn’t Always What You Think: Why Imbalance Is Sometimes Necessary

There have been times in my life when finding balance felt nearly impossible. Moments when one part of life—whether it was a new beginning, a challenge, or a transition—demanded so much of my attention that everything else seemed to fall behind. During those times, even finding the energy or motivation for the things I usually love to do, felt like a struggle.

Balance has always been a priority for me. I often see it as the foundation for a more meaningful life. But through experience, I’ve come to realize that balance doesn’t always look like everything being perfectly aligned at once. Sometimes, true balance comes from accepting the imbalance.

It sounds contradictory, I know. But if you take a step back and look at life with a wider lens, you’ll see that expecting all areas of our life to always be in harmony is simply unrealistic. Life is dynamic. And so, our balance must be dynamic too.

Imbalance Can Lead to Balance

There are times when imbalance is not only inevitable—it’s necessary. Becoming a parent, caring for a loved one, navigating illness, starting a new job, or even healing from something physically or emotionally challenging—these are moments when life naturally leans in one direction.

When that happens, what matters most is how we move through it. If we can approach these moments with awareness and gentleness, we create space for them to teach us something valuable. Eventually, everything will even out again, even if it doesn’t look like how it used to. Sometimes a bit of chaos is what life needs in order to reorganize itself in a new, wiser way.

The Pressure to Find a Perfect Life Balance

One of the hardest parts is the pressure we put on ourselves to "keep it all together." When you know in your heart that balance isn’t realistic at the moment, trying to force it only adds anxiety and frustration. That pressure blocks you from experiencing what the moment is truly asking from you.

We are often so afraid of discomfort—of things feeling uncertain, messy, or out of our control—that we resist what’s unfolding. But life will always have moments of imbalance, chaos, challenge, and change. They are part of life’s rhythm. And they often carry within them the seeds of growth, lessons, and new ways to see and navigate life.

So if you’re in a time of imbalance right now—whether it’s because of something joyful, something difficult, or something unknown—please know this: You are not doing anything wrong. You are simply human. And this moment, too, is part of your path. You just need to embrace it as it is and be gentle with yourself in the process.