Do You Even Equipoise?

Embracing Harmony: The Art of Balance for High Achievers

Tales from a Lady Boss

Hey there, fellow powerhouses! Let's cozy up and chat about something we high achievers often struggle with: balance. Yep, that elusive concept that seems to taunt us from the sidelines as we charge through life at full speed. That thing we secretly desire but pretend we don't, because we're too busy, too focused, or too scared to admit it might actually be possible. Whether you've been taught to believe that success always comes at a cost or you're just skeptical about veering off the high-achiever path, I'm here to shake things up. It might not be the prevailing perspective, but trust me, it's downright liberating.

Lady Boss- The Yin and the Yang

Not too long ago, in the high-pressure world of Corporate America, I found myself at the helm of executive meetings, leading a team of over 500 individuals with an unwavering drive and a relentless pursuit of success. It was fast-paced and high-intensity where every moment counted, and there was no room for anything less than perfection. I LOVED it. I thrived in it. AND amidst the hustle and bustle of it all, there was a whisper of exhaustion that I couldn't ignore.

I hit the wall of burnout at full speed but it didn't show up in my performance or my drive. It showed up in my body. Leaky gut, cortisol swings, a recurrent and persistent skin rash, oh and those emotional breakdowns between me, myself and my bathroom floor. This was the first time I realized a profound truth: Balance is not about achieving less to relax more ⚖️; it is about doing things differently.

Equipoise: Harmonious Blend of Contrasting Elements

But how exactly do you start to do things differently? When you're a high achiever, you're basically a a non-stop engine. You just keep on doing and doing because, well, you're good at it. It's in your DNA. For me, it's the epitome of living out my purpose and making a real impact. But truth be told, I've had my fair share of grappling with it and recently "hustling" gets criticized, especially amongst women. Sometimes I've questioned whether all that striving for perfection is really worth it myself. I mean, there were moments when it felt like it was taking a toll on me, you know, behind the scenes. Was it the over-achieving itself though or was it simply the approach?

It's been quite the journey,  finding my balance, my zen, my mojo – whatever you want to call it. I've had to find that sweet spot where I'm not just pushing forward because I can, but driving with ambition and embracing ease and fluidity at the same time. Both sides-- my powerhouse drive and my natural flow-- are equally intrinsic to my being, equally potent, and equally essential. Many women may share a similar sentiment when they take a moment to truly contemplate it. For me, I just never let the two sides of my personality fully merge. They were like separate tools in a toolbox – relaxation for recovery and drive for making things happen.

Now it's like mixing oil and water and getting a smoothie out of it. Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but you catch my drift. There is harmony in embracing both sides of me. Sure, I still love that relentless drive, but there's also this softer, gentler side that's just as much a part of who I am. So now, I let them both take the wheel, and let me tell you, it's like finding the sweet spot between alignment and peak performance-- it's liberating!

Let's also bring equipoise into play in my health and fitness journey. Boy, was I dedicated to intense workouts! Sweating it out, pushing myself to the limit, always seeking to find my edge and get stronger. But as I got older, I began to rebel against that relentless approach. Maybe my body was trying to tell me something, or maybe I just started listening to my inner wisdom more. That laid-back, go-with-the-flow side of me wanted to be heard, not just for relaxation and recovery, but for discovering what peak performance looks like with ease, especially as I navigate aging.

Cue the gentle yoga sessions and leisurely walks in nature. Suddenly, I found myself tuning into my body's whispers, honoring its need for both strength and serenity. And you know what? It felt amazing. For awhile. Then I missed the intensity. Now, I enjoy leisurely walks outdoors, sometimes with a coffee in hand, while also engaging in hot yoga and CrossFit-inspired workouts, though less frequently. It's no longer an "either/or" situation; it's all about the "both/and." The key lies in its alignment with me. It doesn't necessarily align with the latest trends in biohacking, perimenopause advice, or medical expertise, although I do explore various perspectives. It emerged from a process of trial and error—a mix of what worked, what didn't, what I enjoyed, what I disliked, what felt right, and what didn't. It was a personal journey—a dance between myself, my body, my needs, and my intuition.

And let's not forget the joys of swinging between strict discipline and wild indulgence with food! I've lived at both ends of the spectrum, from clean eating to decadent binges, believe me. But amidst all the experiments, I stumbled upon a profound realization: balance isn't about restriction, excess, should's, or shouldn'ts; it's about listening to your body's cues.

It's about savoring meals that truly fuel your body and leave you feeling invigorated and alive. It's about embracing the joy of indulgence without the weight of guilt or shame. Most importantly, it's about forging your own path, listening to your body's wisdom, and honoring what feels right for you, regardless of societal norms or external expectations, and without conforming to anyone else's rules or standards.

Inner Wisdom Wins

Yes. I'm talking about swinging the pendulum and then finding that sweet spot in the middle. We often operate on autopilot until something or someone shakes us up and suggests, "Hey, there might be a better way!" So why not shake things up ourselves? What if we reimagined our approach to everything? What if we stopped and paid attention to that inner voice—the one that always knows what's best, but we frequently ignore or fail to recognize? It's the voice that whispers, "take it easy," when burnout looms, cheers us on when we're slacking, and reminds us to nourish ourselves when we are tempted to skimp. It's the regal voice that assures us we can both achieve greatness and stay grounded and adaptable...and we KNOW.

I'm eager to hear about your journey to finding balance. We all benefit when you share your insights! If you want to delve deeper into your own dance with balance and your body's wisdom, click on the link below. I've got a revamped nutritional reset program beginning 5/30 where we will use nutrition as one way to begin to unlearn societal conditioning and habitual behaviors to attune more to your body's innate wisdom and natural rhythms.

Let's Dance 💃

Love and light my friends!