Why Chasing It Could Be Holding You Back

We’ve all heard it—"balance is the key to life." But what if I told you the relentless pursuit of perfect balance is actually what’s holding you back? The truth is, life isn’t always about balance—it’s about fully immersing yourself in the moment, owning the highs and the lows, and knowing when to let one thing take precedence over another.
Let me tell you a story.

When I was in my early 30s, I found myself juggling a young family, a career transition, and serving in two startup churches. I remember a night when I was up late working on sermon prep, my kids were asleep, and my wife was exhausted from the day. I felt the weight of trying to be everything to everyone, all the time. I’d been told my whole life that balance was the key—that if I could just balance it all, everything would be okay.
But here’s the truth: balance doesn’t mean trying to keep everything equal all the time. It means recognizing what matters most in each moment and giving yourself permission to focus fully on that. In that season of life, my family needed me to be present when I was home, and my work needed my full attention when I was there. I learned that balance is not about splitting your energy equally between everything; it’s about giving the right amount of attention to what matters most in that moment.

Perfect balance is a myth.

There are seasons in life where you need to go all-in on one thing and let others take a backseat. The pursuit of perfect balance can paralyze you—leading to burnout, guilt, and a sense that you're never doing enough.

So here’s what I’ve learned:

• Identify your seasons. Some seasons require more of you at work, and others demand more from your personal life. Know what season you're in and what deserves your focus.
• Own your imbalance. Once you know what your focus is, embrace it. Give yourself permission to go all-in on what matters most.
• Adjust as needed. Life changes, and what was a priority last year might shift this year. Be open to changing your focus.

The truth is, life isn’t about maintaining perfect balance—it’s about recognizing when to pivot, when to double down, and when to rest. Embrace the ebb and flow, and give yourself grace in the process. You don’t have to carry it all, all the time.

Perfect balance? Let it go.

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