The holidays have arrived in full force. It’s the season of gatherings, parties, decorating, baking, and overdoing it. Too much might look like eating that extra slice or two of pie, sampling the delicious homemade cookie platter your friend made, or saying “yes” to all the invites you receive. Overindulging could show up as having one drink too many or getting very little sleep. This adds to having little to no life balance during the holidays.

There is an Albert Einstein quote I’ve always loved. Every time I read it, I’d nod in agreement and think about how true it seemed. However, recently, when it appreared in my daily quote feed, it didn’t land as it always had. Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

To keep your balance on a bike, you do need to keep moving. If you don’t, well, we know what will happen. You’ll fall over. However, we need periods of motion and stillness to feel balance in life. Time to move and time to rest. So as much as I respect and admire Einstein, I don’t agree with his bike riding/life balance analogy.

You might choose to pedal through the holidays in perpetual motion. What I propose is something different. As you plan your season of gatherings, traveling, parties, and more, I invite you to build in some stillness and rest. What that looks and feels like for you will vary.

For me, it will include time for . . .

• Sleeping

• Thinking

• Staring out of the window

• Writing

• Meditating

• Sipping a hot cup of aromatic tea

• Dreaming

• Saying “no”

• Observing

• Reading

• Watching the candles flicker

• Stretching out on the sofa wrapped in a soft blanket

“Build in some stillness and rest.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

Moments of quiet will be intermingled with activity. I will intentionally invite moments to pause, regroup, and recharge. This way, I’ll be able to fully embrace the joy of this season while balancing the need for stillness and fun.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season! How will you create more balance during this time of year? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

Opportunities for change appear in dramatic and mundane ways. However, it’s not always clear if it’s time to make a change, even when a cue presents itself. Maybe you’re not ready. Perhaps you aren’t aware of the hint. Or, you know something needs to shift, but you’re more comfortable with the familiar and are hesitant to pursue the unknown. Fear and anxiety can surface, which clouds objectivity and decision-making. 

Several weeks ago, I received an obvious change indicator. It couldn’t be any clearer. Did I boldly go for it and make the necessary change? Eventually, I did, but not without some angst. For iPhone users, this scenario will sound familiar. My phone started acting up. What happened? The icon on the home screen indicated the battery was 100% charged. Within minutes, the battery dropped to 10% and then shut off the phone. The first time it happened, I thought I misread the icon. After all, the symbol is tiny, and I have a hard time seeing it without my glasses. It happened four times and with increased frequency. Even though I wanted to pretend that it was nothing, I could not ignore the facts. My phone wasn’t working, and a change was inevitable.

Technology and our devices are great when they work. But when they don’t, it can be frustrating. At the height of my annoyance and awareness, I called Apple for their help. Within minutes, a calm, knowledgeable tech support person ran a diagnostic on my phone and quickly determined the problem. He said my “battery has reached its full lifespan.” Full lifespan? I thought that phrase sounded odd, so I asked for more clarification. He read back the report, which specifically stated my battery had “exceeded expected lifespan.”

How often is the choice for change that clear? Translated, “exceeded expected lifespan” meant it was time to move on, Linda, and get a new phone. I won’t go into the details of what happened next with my research, numerous conversations, sleepless nights, and the decision-making process. The vital part of this story isn’t about next, but about how we can notice and lean into change.

“Whether your change indicators are subtle or bold, they are waiting for you to discover them.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Without seeing an indicator, you won’t make a change. Once you are aware that change is necessary, the process begins. An internal switch gets flipped from being oblivious to aware. Awareness sets choices into motion, which bring about change.

As I said at the beginning, not all cues are as clear as my iPhone diagnostic revealed. How often do we get the message that something has “exceeded expected lifespan,” and it’s time to move on? Whether your change indicators are subtle or bold, they are waiting for you to discover them.

Have you noticed cues for change? What are they encouraging you to pursue? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation!