"Balance is a dynamic state of being, a place where our mind and body and spirit can converse in concert, move with subtle grace and behold its perfect intention."

There I was, five years old and sixty wobbly feet away from what seemed like the gazillionth "You can do it!" gentle push of my fathers guiding hands. When suddenly, for no apparent reason, I started losing my balance and soon found myself flying over the handlebars of a new—and without training wheels—Schwinn two-wheeler. Scraping across our driveway, head-over-tea-kettle (what exactly does that mean?) and at warp speed, the soft skin on my kneecaps and elbows soon parted company with the rest of my body and painfully took up residence somewhere on the rough concrete below. Can you say "OWIE!"

I finally came to an abrupt halt with the bicycle painfully wrapped around my body and my head stuck to the base of an old oak tree. Within seconds, a crowd of concerned onlookers (OK. It wasn't actually a crowd but more like four or five people and an old Labrador retriever) had gathered, including my mother who was screaming something about "putting my eye out!" and "cracking my head open!" (By the way, did you ever know anyone who actually "put their eye out" or "cracked their head open?")

Mom held me in her arms and proceeded to do the mommy thing, which meant asking if "I was alright" while at the same time telling me that I would "never ride that damn bike again!" Dad, who was usually the calm one, took decisive action and raced into the house, apparently looking for the first aid kit. Note: Recently, it has been determined, that at that precise moment the Detroit Tigers were on T.V. with the bases loaded and Kaline at bat. So it's a little fuzzy as to whether or not dad actually returned with the first aid kit or someone had to go find him…

Me? I was laughing my butt off and, well, shall we say, thrilled! Finally, after weeks of trying, falling down and trying again, I had found my balance and actually rode my bike—all by myself—to the end of the driveway with all of my friends looking on! Balance? I suddenly knew what it felt like, and at that moment, I was the only kid in the neighborhood (under the age of six) that did. Plus, I was wounded, bleeding and somewhat of a legend in my own mind. Evil Kenevil look out!

Remember when you first learned to ride a bike? Remember the difficulty of trying to balance on two thin tires? It was hard, but you were eager to learn. You kept at it. You never gave up. Then suddenly, without really trying, the balancing part just sort of showed up. There you were, preparing to fall down once again, or, as my mom would say, "crack your head open" when all of a sudden the balance gods smiled on you and the next thing you know, you're riding high in the saddle! It was still the same old you, still the same old bike. The difference? You had found your balance. Life would never be the same.

Just as with riding a bike, perfect balance is essential to living a happy and healthy life. The struggles we face in our daily lives can seem just as overwhelming as learning to ride a bike did; until that magic moment when we achieve perfect balance. Yes, occasionally we may fall down, get frustrated or even desire to take the easy way out and return to our old habits. But eventually, as we continue to push on toward our dreams, respect our minds and bodies and tune into Spirit, the universe will allow perfect balance to show up in our lives.

My friend and fellow life coach Dr. James Rouse believes as I do, that true balance must involve body, mind and spirit. It is in balancing these three elements that we are able to discover our true path in life and manifest our destiny. By achieving perfect balance, we will reduce the stress in our lives and arrive at a sense of well-being; of knowing we are on-purpose and becoming our highest gift. We will find peace within ourselves and experience a sense of bliss not unlike that referred to as "Heaven on earth."

According to medical research, stress is the cause of 98% of all disease! Folks, we're not only talking about heart attacks, strokes or immune system breakdowns here, but, with the exception of two viruses, every single disease known to man. Plain and simple: stress kills! There is a definite correlation between the elimination of stress and the creation of optimum health and perfect balance. As balance and improved health increase, stress and disease decrease. The opposite is also true—as stress increases, our ability to find balance diminishes and our health declines.

The good news is that science and spirituality are beginning to come together as a powerful force. Hundreds of research studies clearly document the link between body mind and spirit, and for the first time, medical doctors are attending conferences on faith and healing in record numbers. As baby boomers are watching their parents get older, and witnessing the same effects of aging in themselves, alternative forms of medicine focused more on prevention than treatment are becoming commonplace in our society. The conclusion: Perfect balance of body, mind and Spirit can prevent, and in some cases, heal a multitude of health problems.

In my own life, I have found the connection between body, mind and Spirit to be a tremendous source of strength. When all three are equally balanced and as coach James says, "conversing in concert" I am at my best. I do my best work and give genuine love and attention to myself and those around me. I feel good about who I am, don't kick the dog so much and simply put: I am a better human being all the way around.

But, when one of these three areas are out of balance, so is my life. I miss deadlines, eat the wrong foods, get angry, lose my cool and create misery for those around me. When I am out of balance, just as when I fell off my bike, life becomes a struggle—I am out of control.

What follows is a brief review of body, mind and Spirit. No rocket science here—just simple tried and true ideas that have created balance and optimum health in my life and in the lives of many others. Will they work for you? Absolutely! Give them a try (after consulting your physician) and let me know what you think. As we walk this Spirit trail together, my prayer is that you too will find balance in your life and become your highest gift.

Body. Our bodies support our souls as we navigate the planet. Keeping our bodies healthy is tantamount to insuring that we are as productive as possible during the short time that we are here. It's not so much about quantity or how long we will live, but rather about quality or how well we will live.

The body houses our mind and soul and depending on how well we take care of it, will allow us or prevent us from playing an active role in our own universe. If we are over weight, suffering from poor nutrition, or otherwise physically run down and out of shape, our lives and the lives of those around us will suffer. It is difficult to traverse the Spirit trail; to ascend to the highest levels of being, if we don't like our bodies or have the energy it takes to get out of bed in the morning! Mind over mattress requires optimum energy and optimum energy can only come from a body that is finely tuned.

A sound body requires proper nutrition and proper nutrition means getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals everyday of our lives. That means taking supplements. Often our schedules don't allow us to eat the right combination of foods necessary for optimum health. To achieve your desired level of fitness, at minimum, a good pharmaceutical-grade multi-vitamin combined with additional doses of pharmaceutical-grade vitamin C and E should be taken everyday. Your vitamin and mineral regime can be much more involved than this, but this is a good place to start if you are considering nutritional supplementation. Consult with a knowledgeable nutritionist for further information and options.

We've all heard it said for years, and it's true: It makes good sense to reduce the excess fat in your diet, particularly animal fat. Don't feel like you have to cut out everything you've been eating for the past forty years overnight. Just reduce your intake of red meat, butter, cheese and other dairy products gradually over time. Eat more chicken and fish, try a small amount of jam without butter on your toast, and have your burger without cheese for a change. If you feel like living a little on the edge, try replacing cow milk (or as I like to think of it, "the bodily fluid from an animal") with soymilk. Look for a product called Silk in your grocer's dairy case-it's awesome! Also, think about replacing the typical three square meals with six smaller meals spread out across the day. This will help to keep you mentally balanced by keeping your blood sugar level in check.

Next, consider eliminating or at least reducing your consumption of alcohol, sugar and caffeine. Studies have shown that people who abuse alcohol also drink a significant amount of caffeine every day. Here's the connection: caffeine consumption results in a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. Alcohol on the other hand, is one of the most concentrated forms of sugar known to man. Thus, after a long day of too many latte's and cappuccino's, your body will be searching for a way to replace the lost sugar. Alcohol fits the bill perfectly. It's a vicious and unhealthy cycle of too much caffeine during the day followed by too much alcohol at night.

Note: It has been said that moderate alcohol consumption is OK. That's because alcohol, like other potentially toxic substances, is essentially a poison. Moderately poisoning yourself is indeed better than completely poisoning yourself! But, why poison yourself at all? Eliminate this junk from your body and get off the caffeine/alcohol roller coaster. Spiritually speaking, you don't need any external substance to alter your state of consciousness—the power to feel good is within you! Replace alcohol and caffeine consumption with purified or spring water—drink at least half your body weight in ounces every day. Weigh 150lbs? Drink at least 75 ounces of water daily. Simple.

When it comes to exercise, there are three areas that most fitness experts agree must be incorporated into any daily work out program: aerobics, stretching, and weight training. My own personal exercise program consists of yoga and meditation at sunrise, followed by twenty minutes of weight training, followed by a forty-five minute run. A couple of good books to get you headed in the right direction are, Body for Life by Bill Phillips and Yoga for Dummies by Georg Feurstein and Larry Payne. Note: You don't have to be a pretzel to enjoy the benefits of yoga. Take a class to get acquainted with the concepts and poses. If nothing else, focus only on the breathing techniques. Learning to breathe properly will eliminate a significant amount of stress from your life. Yoga dates back 5000 years and currently some fifteen million Americans include some form of yoga in their fitness regimen-twice as many as did five years ago! This stuff works. Honest!

Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. It has been estimated that most Americans fall at least an hour short of the eight-hour minimum and frankly some people need more than eight. Consider sleep to be a sacred requirement of each day. Let your body, mind and Spirit rejuvenate and rebuild themselves during your eight hours of living in dreamland.

Finally, reward your self for a job well done by frequently getting a therapeutic massage. I seldom endorse a particular establishment, but frankly, those of us in Colorado are blessed to have one of the world's best day spas right in our own backyard. Tall Grass Aveda Spa and Salon is a tranquil oasis with trained professionals who are there to pamper you from head to toe. The folks there understand the mind, body and spirit connection. Give them a call and schedule an appointment. You'll be glad you did!

Mind. The mind is truly a "terrible thing to waste" yet that is precisely what many of us do. We read too few books if any at all, watch far too much T.V. and consume mind altering substances that prevent us from honestly experiencing the joys of life. Feed your mind junk food and the result will be a junk-filled mind. Clarity of purpose and focused thinking are the result of a clear and focused mind. Remember: Everything we experience in life begins as a thought. As we think so we become.

Essentially, life is meaningless. Except for the meaning that we choose to give it, life has no agenda of its own. To give life meaning, you must be awake, involved and actively participating in the daily choices and opportunities that present themselves. Look at life like a blank slate; an empty canvass just waiting for the artist (that's you!) to determine what the painting will look like. How would you like to design your life? What would you like your legacy to be? What will your friends and family say about you after you are gone? Take the time to think about such things; don't let life simply happen to you. You truly do have the God-given power to create the world you choose to live in and manifest your desired destiny. The choice to do so is entirely up to you.

Connect with friends and family. Your family may consist of a spouse and children, a spouse and no children, children and no spouse, your mother, father and six hundred relatives or simply you and your dog. Whatever your family and circle of friends look like, take the time to listen to and deeply understand the people in your life who really matter. Let your heart hang a little further down your sleeve and openly express the love you feel for others as if you had only one more day to live. Who knows; maybe one more day is all you will get. Someone's last day on earth is today. Another group of us will be leaving the planet tomorrow. Let your family and friends know how much they mean to you—now!

A Course In Miracles states that "nothing occurs outside our minds." Meditation, prayer, tai chi and yoga can provide our minds with a silent sanctuary in a world that has become far too noisy. While there are many techniques for learning how to meditate-and I would certainly recommend buying a good book-for beginners it doesn't have to be that complicated. The whole idea is learning to be still-something we Americans have a tough time doing.

Try this: get up early in the morning—just before sunrise—and simply allow your mind to free float. Begin by giving thanks and gratitude to the Creator for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon you and your family. You will be surprised at how many good things happen to you on a daily basis when you really stop and take time to consider them. An attitude of gratitude can change your entire outlook on life.

Think of meditation as mental floss and just let your mind relax as the cobwebs from a good night's sleep begin to dissipate. Replace any and all negative thoughts that creep into your psyche with positive affirmations as you anticipate the start of a new day. What good things do you want to happen in your life and in the lives of others? Repeat those things to yourself. As you do this and without any straining, breathe in deeply from your stomach and exhale each breath as slowly as possible. Visualize your life as you want it to be. Go within yourself to find all the answers you need for the challenges the new day will surely bring. Try this for several mornings and then tell me how much better you feel! Remember: When you're not going within you're going without!

Spirit. The Spirit Trail will be different for each of us. There is no one-way to connect with God, there is only your way to connect with God. Like spokes on a wheel, there are many different ways to reach the center and connect with the Creator. Don't feel guilty if your way is not the same as someone else. That's why there are so many different options; so many different churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, religions, denominations, faiths, beliefs, perspectives, groups, and individual truths about the God Force. God lives in all of us and is therefore uniquely accessible to every human being in a language that will be as individual and as diverse as we are. Find the language that works for you, take a leap of faith and most importantly, believe!

Let your belief manifest itself into action—live your truth authentically and with passion so that others will see you as a light worker and holy example. There is nothing worse than professing to believe something but behaving ways that don't line up with what you believe. I have personally witnessed, as many of us have, television evangelists, pastors of major churches, spiritual writers and speakers and so-called men of faith, who speak so righteously in public but live their lives like heathens when they think no one is looking! Don't let this happen to you. Live what you believe and allow others to do the same.

Learn to meditate and pray alone. Get comfortable with the silence and simply listen. God doesn't just speak to some people; He speaks to everyone. You don't need anyone or anything to act as an intermediary between you and God—He doesn't need a translator, He just needs your attention. Look at it this way: You came into this world alone and you will leave this world alone. Eventually, each of our souls will leave the planet and commune with God one on one. Why not start now?

Even though I have listed Spirit as the last concept in the body, mind and spirit triad, it is, in actuality, the first area we should focus on as we seek balance and optimum health. It is common to think that we must get ourselves together—perfect our body and minds—before we connect to Spirit. In fact, it seems that just the opposite is true; once we surrender to the power of the God Force, that's when things really begin to come together. Everything works better when God is involved. Perfect balance is powerful and all power is of God.

As a life coach, I have the privilege of helping individuals and organizations accomplish their goals and discover their Divine purpose in life. By focusing on the balance between body, mind and Spirit, you too can walk the path of light and become your highest gift. The end result will be a significant reduction in stress, greater clarity of purpose, and a higher quality of living. Just like riding a bike, once your life comes into balance, you will ride high in the saddle and wonder how in the world you ever lived any other way. Give these ideas a try and for crying out loud, be careful out there. I wouldn't want anyone to put their eye out!

Some Things To Consider

Think about your body, mind and spirit. What is the one thing you could do in each of those three areas that would move your life another step towards perfect balance? Begin doing those things this week. Repeat this procedure every week until perfect balance becomes a way of life for you.

All Rights Reserved © 2002 By Jeffrey Alan Hall