Balancing What You Give and What You Keep

What’s good friend! 

We talk a lot about showing up with intention; for our families, our communities, our work. But sometimes, in all that showing up, we forget the most important place we’re supposed to be present: with ourselves.

So… let’s focus on balance. It’s about asking: Am I pouring so much into others that I’ve left nothing for me? Am I hiding behind “busyness” instead of facing what I really need? Am I giving in ways that align with me or in ways that are draining me?

Balance isn’t about splitting life into perfect halves, to me it’s about harmony within intentional living. It’s the rhythm between giving and receiving, between pushing and pausing, between carrying others and remembering you deserve to be carried too.

Let’s reflect…

• Where in my life am I over-giving right now?

• What’s one area where I need to reclaim energy for myself?

• What would balance look like in this season?

Write these down, sit with them, and let the answers guide how you move this week, this month.. or even for the remainder of the year.

I want you to try something simple: when someone asks you how you’re doing, answer honestly. Don’t brush it off with “I’m fine” or hide behind “I’m busy.”

Tell the truth about where you’re at… even if it’s just with one trusted person. Because here’s the thing, sometimes balance starts by letting others see the real weight we’re carrying. And when we do, we often open the door for support to step in.

That support might look tangible by someone offering to help lighten your load, take a task off your plate, or show up physically. Or it might come as affirmation, such as a reminder that you’re not alone, that what you’re feeling is valid, that you don’t have to carry it all in silence. Both forms matter. Both create space for balance to exist.

Answer honestly…

Here’s what I’m feeling: balance doesn’t just show up. It’s something we create with small, intentional choices by saying no when your plate is already full, asking for help instead of over-functioning, and most importantly, letting yourself rest without guilt.

Rest doesn’t make you lazy, it makes you aligned. When you pause, you give yourself permission to listen to what your body and spirit are asking for. That’s not weakness… that’s wisdom.

Also remember that balance isn’t about achieving some perfect formula where everything is evenly divided. It’s about alignment, choosing what’s true for you in this season and releasing what no longer fits. It’s about giving yourself grace when you need to step back and strength when you need to lean forward.

It’s not a destination you “arrive” at. It’s a rhythm, a practice, a daily returning. And the more we honor that rhythm, the more we learn that rest isn’t falling behind, it’s the very thing that keeps us moving in purpose.