What about balance?

Many people who talk to me bemoan the fact that they are not able to maintain balance in their lives. And so, as valuable as balance can be, I often observe that the desire for balance often puts one more stressor on people and, thus, backfires. Over the years, I've been recommending that folks aspire to a rhythm in their lives instead. Nevertheless, balance has its strong points. Here's a wonderful quotation that brings all these facets into perspective:

Life is often messy, uncertain, and unpredictable. Sometimes it's a string of troubles that seem to never end. That's normal. Ups and downs are normal. Being ill on occasion is normal. Feeling peaceful and happy are normal. Occasional low-energy days are normal. According to Chinese medicine, it is accepted as natural that we fluctuate from being in balance to being out of balance. Peace of mind comes from not attaching a great deal of significance to either state. We simply note our moods and physical states and gently move toward balance as best we can, accepting it all as part of the flow of life.

-- Charlotte Davis Kasl

So, the real key is acceptance, isn't it?