Finding your balance (without loosing your mind)

Let’s be honest — “balance” gets thrown around a lot these days. We’re told to balance work and life, kale and coffee, Netflix and meditation. It can start to sound like a full-time job just trying to stay “balanced.”

But in Chinese medicine, balance isn’t about doing everything in perfect proportion or never having a bad day. It’s about learning to flow with change — the same way nature does. The seasons don’t freak out when the weather shifts; they just… shift. If only we could be that chill.

Yin, Yang, and the Myth of Perfection

In TCM, balance comes from the dance between yin (the restful, cooling, quiet side of life) and yang (the active, warm, go-get-it energy). Neither one is better — they need each other, like day and night, or tea and dumplings.

The problem is, we often try to live like it’s high noon all day, every day. Work hard! Exercise more! Be productive! Meanwhile, yin is standing in the corner waving a white flag, saying, “Hey, maybe sit down for five minutes?”

Balance isn’t about splitting life 50/50 between yin and yang — it’s about knowing which one you need right now. Some days you’re a yang-fueled productivity machine; others, you’re basically a human dumpling. Both are fine. Both are natural.

Seasons, Cycles, and Soup

Chinese medicine teaches that the same rhythm that moves through the seasons moves through us.

• Spring is for growth and new beginnings — perfect for starting projects or finally stretching those hamstrings.

• Summer is bright, social, and full of energy (and maybe ice cream).

• Autumn invites us to let go — of clutter, of busyness, or that sock drawer you’ve been avoiding.

• Winter is all about rest, reflection, and embracing your inner hermit with a warm bowl of soup.

If you fight these natural shifts — like trying to live a summer lifestyle in the middle of winter — you’ll probably feel off. The takeaway? Eat seasonally, move seasonally, and maybe accept that there’s a reason you crave hotpot in July and salads in January.

Balance on a Tuesday

Of course, balance isn’t just seasonal — it’s daily. Some mornings you wake up ready to conquer the world; other days, the only thing you want to conquer is your blanket fort. That’s okay.

Try asking yourself each morning:

“What do I need to feel balanced today?”

Maybe it’s a walk, maybe it’s rest, maybe it’s an extra bliss ball (because yes, joy counts as medicine too). Listening to those small cues — instead of pushing through them — is one of the most powerful ways to stay healthy and happy.

The Real Secret

Here’s the truth: balance isn’t a static goal you reach and then check off your list. It’s more like surfing — you wobble, you adjust, you occasionally wipe out, and then you get back up again.

The magic is in the adjustment, not the perfection.

So, next time you feel “off balance,” don’t panic. Pour yourself some tea, take a breath, and remember: even nature needs downtime. And if nature can take a nap every winter, so can you.

Final Thought:

Balance isn’t about doing everything right — it’s about noticing what’s right for you, right now. And if that includes a little laughter along the way? Even better. After all, joy moves qi too.

Getting acupuncture can also be a great way to help your body find its equilibrium when your struggling to find it yourself