The Beauty of Balance: Learning from the Turtle

“You can rest when you die.”

“No pain, no gain.”

“Blood, sweet and tears.”

The world is riddled with these kinds of metaphoric commands that basically say the harder you try and the harder you work, the better you will do and the more you will succeed – and ultimately, the happier you will be.

Today, I consider such advice to be downright dangerous and sometimes just false.

What’s worse is I actually bought into the dogma and committed to it until I was in my early 30’s. Of course I am not overlooking the value of pursuing a creation or goal – but to what extent and sacrifice? Personally, my non-stop mentality in my earlier years caused injuries in my sports career as I trained so hard; I lost respect as a leader as I forced and pushed too much. I have lost relationships and burnt down bridges, because my attitude of pursuit was unhealthily forceful.

What I discovered later in life, is: If you lose balance in your life, you will lose power. And if you are forcing in any area of your life, this will almost certainly tip you out of balance.

One of the wisest insights to a fulfilled life is knowing how to cultivate balance.

The Balinese get this, so much so that they perceive embodiments of balance in nature as sacred and powerful – such as the sacred turtle. The turtle is regarded as the epitomy of balance in the animal world because it lives its life equally between earth and water. If you put a turtle on its back – its shell – it simply and gracefully rocks back into a position of stability.

The Balinese, too, live equally off the land and sea.

Each day, the offerings they create and bless get made from all variables from land and water – from bananas leaves, scent, fresh flowers and rose water. Fire, Air, Water, Wind and Earth is all represented equally in their daily ritual creations.

Another way in which they hold balance in high regard is through acknowledging and respecting both forces of positive and negative in the world. They understand that the two are sides of the same coin – the same one-ness. True power comes in accepting and embracing both, without needing to force or change something.

Today I teach the principle of balance as one of the miracle insights to an abundant, happy and fulfilled life. Even on my Retreats, the itinerary is structured to balance teachings, activities, and enough down-time and reflection. The magic happens in the space between the notes.