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My last blog was about finding peace in the midst of all the noise and distractions among us. I wrote about the need that most of us have to be entertained rather than being still and in the moment, because that blog seemed to get more engagement then some of the previous blogs. I decided to piggyback off of it to include tips on how to find balance in a less then balanced society, with so many of us needing entertainment and things, in order to be in a place of inner peace. It is important to restore ones balance and find joy in the simple things again.

Not only are we affected by the energy that we all share, we also have a need for “things” to fill any missing void in our lives. Naturally we gravitate to things that “make us happy” so to speak. But the reality is according to books and studies all that we need to cope with life’s ups and downs is right inside of our selves. We don’t need people to control our moods, we don’t need things to bring us fulfillment, according to the great guru’s and coaches everywhere, all that we need to live a happy, peaceful, sustained life is within us. Imagine that!

This is actually a subject that I can relate to all too well especially with a profession that requires me to give and absorb so much energy to and from others. Not only do we spend our day to day taking all of these things in we are also being affected by all the things that we see, hear and as a result feel. Other people affect our happiness, as well as other feelings we have even people we don’t know can put us in a sour mood if we don’t understand how to find that inner peace and balance.

Working in the beauty profession can be beautiful and exciting being around all the creative energy and having the opportunity to make people feel amazing. You get to engage with so many different personalities and even experience other people cultural differences. Working in the salon invites people from all walks of life to come together for a common purpose and that is get, “beauty-fied”!

The salon is the perfect setting for all things beauty and enhancement so it would be only natural that anything connected to beauty entertainment and attraction will filter its way into the salon. Often the salon is used as an outlet to sell items that enhances how one feels like purses, shoes, even tickets to up and coming concerts and show. We have even had people coming to sell jewelry. Occasionally people will come on Fridays to sell the best “feel good” comfort foods and desserts.

I guess it all makes sense, after all the beauty salon is the place where you go to look good, enhance your mood and become renewed. So the notion to cater to ones “feel good” senses is ideal at the place where men and women are open to buy things and do things to make them feel happy. When you are in an environment where the energy is so high with all of this exchange; buying, selling, talking and physically engaging in this whole process it can be pretty taxing and draining.

I must admit in my earlier days of working in the beauty salon I would be one of the ones buying the feel good food, jewelry, purses, and the clothes because admittedly, they made me happy. It seemed to be the norm for me to find happiness in the things that I could hold and touch. I, like most had become consumed by what was around me and not necessarily what was inside of me. Half of the things I never used, or would get it home and realize I didn’t need it or didn’t love it as much as I did when I was caught in the moment.

The truth is when we are centered, we spend less money on frivolous things, we don’t get raveled by other peoples energy (so fast), and we realize that, everything we need to sustain happiness is literally, within us.

I have become a minimalist over the last few years, but the truth is that it was always in me, in spite of my earlier years in the salon and the need that I had to buy things that people would come by the salon and sell. However over the past few years I have begun to downsize tremendously and not keep things that I really don’t care about, want, or need.

Here is where I will tie it all end and nail the point. We don’t need an excess of things to be happy, we don’t need an excess of outside influence to feel good inside. When we find peace within, we find balance. Once we really find that place of balance (it’s a balancing act) we can make conscious choices about how we live and HOW we let others affect our energy. When you find that place of balance in a world that force “things” upon us, to speak to our own personal happiness and joy, we will see that we really don’t need much at all.

Every few months I literally go through my personal things and I do a cleaning up of my space. If I don’t need it, if it doesn’t serve a purpose or if it has no place I get rid of it. That’s just me, and how I cope because part of what keeps me centered is not feeling clutter around me. Your process may obviously be different.

HERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT I DO TO KEEP ME BALANCED:

WAKE UP EARLY EACH MORNING- I can remember I use to say people that get up at 4:30 a.m. are crazy! Well now I set my alarm for 4:30 every morning. I do this because it seems to be the only way I can truly stay in front of my day. Originally I just wanted to get some writing and reading done however, I did not know it would bring about a sense of peace and balance in that quiet still hour. Since I have been setting my alarm (it’s still hard to wake up) I start my morning with prayer and thankfulness, and I am able to power through my day with gratitude.

WORKOUT- Exercising in the morning is one of the most important parts of my day. I feel like it’s about me against myself. When I am pushing my body pass my own personal limitations it is as though I challenge me to be better. This gives me a fulfillment of knowing I am allowing me to be the best I can, or at least working on it. I don’t need anything else to be at peace, knowing I am working on my best self is enough.

EAT WELL- Very recently I have incorporated a better way of eating into my daily routine and I must say it has had a tremendous impact on how I feel from the inside, thus creating more sustained balance. I have decided to eliminate just about all processed foods (because sometimes you don’t know it’s processed with all the hidden ingredients in food) and really loading up on the fruits, veggies and cleaner eating. I feel great. I have been avoiding all the temptation to eat the crap that our society is pushing us to consume in order to feel good and be happy.

ACUPUNTURE- I have been a big advocate for acupuncture for the past 11 years, I get it religiously and I know that it will be a part of my life for as long as I live. That’s how strongly I feel about it. I originally started getting acupuncture to feel better with the work related pain I was dealing with. I now get it for overall wellness and, you guessed it, balance. These miracle needles help with every part of us you could possibly imagine including mood and mental health.

MINAMILST- Now this is a pretty sensitive subject. When I suggested to my relative about downsizing so much of her stuff, you would have thought I sentenced her to time in jail, she was distraught. So let me be perfectly clear what being a minimalist looks like and feels like for me. I do not like clutter at all. Therefore I go through my things regularly to clear out the old create space and keep the energy in my working and living space flowing freely. I have a personal rule for myself that if I have clothes that I have not worn for 2 season cycles then it’s probably time for me to get rid of them. Yes I am told that they may be extreme but that’s ok, your de clutter process may be different from mine. The point for me is I need clean and clear energy flowing around me and I make sure I keep it that way by doing regular de cluttering.

These practices really work for me. They allow me to live a life of peace in a not so peaceful world. My thought process is clear therefore I don’t have to be sucked in a pulled every which way because of lack of balance. I can find quiet and enjoyment within instead of looking to be entertained outside. Don’t get me wrong if I want to play, I play. If I want to find calm I can find it in an instant, within.

What are some of the things that you do for personal happiness and balance?

If you guys feel that this information is helpful, please let me know! If you would like for me to elaborate more, let me know that as well! I love hearing from you, so please give me more feedback on how I can serve you!