This month we’ll be looking at well-rounded, balanced living.

The first step to living a balanced life is reflection. So I’m asking you to take some time this month to think about the state of your life now and to begin to imagine what you want it to be. We’ll take this reflection step by step.

Give yourself time for this reflection. It’s important and worth the time necessary. You can do this reflection all at once or over several days. I personally find it useful to do my thinking while I take walks, writing things down when I get home. Do what works for you. You might want to journal your responses to the reflection questions if that’s something you do. I do recommend that you take the questions in order, giving each as much time as you think it needs.

So, here are you questions for reflection:

• What are the important things you need to make time for in your life? Some examples might be work, family, church, school, hobbies, rest, volunteer work.
• Which of those things get more time than they should? Less time than they should? Where are things out of balance?
• What space exists in your life? Are there time-wasters (scrolling? streaming?) that you could eliminate? Are there pockets of time you could use better? (Next week we’ll look at some strategies for finding more usable time.)
• What things give you energy? What things sap your energy?
• What forces, internal or external, disrupt your balance?
• What would your ideal day or week look like?

The purpose of this reflection is to help you take an honest look at the current state of your life and to begin to envision the life you want.