Life is a balancing act of holding on and letting go

The idea of balance is a constant struggle for most of us. Yet with enough time, one learns how being unbalanced can become a hindrance to all of the things we hope to achieve or bring into our lives. That balance, even if momentary, is what offers us the slightest freedom. 

Since my last depression relapse, I’ve been working on this idea of balance as I hold on to some things while letting go of so much more. One of the most dramatic letting go for me has been how I spend my time, how much more thought I give to how I spend my time, how much more thought to with whom I spend my time. All of this required a great deal of letting go of things that, for someone like me, had been not just a distraction but the mainstage production. 

What I’ve noticed in this process is how much quieter my life has become since I’ve spent the last couple of years removing or excising all that was noise distracting me from what is truly important for my life and mental health. While the quiet is a dramatic change, it has been one I now realize is what’s best for me. 

But as happens in life, as I was busy closing many doors, new ones appeared offering me different opportunities and challenges. In the past I would have run through these new doors and opportunities without much thought, but I’ve learned taking my time and doing a full honest assessment of what it means and what I think I can handle has been a big, positive change.