The #!@?ing Dichotomy

Nature maintains balance without judgment. How can we do the same?

Back in the Spring, we talked about shifting our perspective of a cycle to utilize it to our advantage: we can either get stuck in it, or use it to perpetuate our growth. Now that we are knee-deep in the energy of Summer, let’s talk about how to do the same with balance.

When we consider our own internal scales that determine how everything evens out in our lives, we often imagine it all in equal parts, like going out for a late night after a long work day. You put in the hours for productivity and now get to reap the rewards of being as carefree as possible, reclaiming your time to do what you elect to do as opposed to what the work day requires.

Aside from work and play, where do your everyday necessities lie in this balance? Running errands, keeping up with chores, and setting appointments often feels like work because it certainly doesn’t count as play, does it?

When you explore the ideal stability between work and play, productivity and fulfillment, consider a vital shift in your perspective: balance does not equal perfection, or perfect parts of a whole, but rather a ratio that invites each working part to function in harmony, no matter how big or small.

Speaking of harmony, our founder Katie has her own firsthand experience exploring an ideal ratio with her career as a vocalist and performer:

“As a vocal coach, I teach flow–pressure ratio management and practice it in my own professional work onstage. This concept helps singers understand and control how air moves from the lungs through the vocal folds, and how much subglottic pressure (air pressure below the vocal folds) is used to create sound. In short, it is about balancing breath flow and breath pressure so the voice remains efficient, healthy, and expressive.

As female creatives, we are constantly managing our own version of the flow–pressure ratio—only instead of air and vocal folds, it is the balance between our creative output and the demands pressing in on us. Too much “pressure” without giving ourselves enough room to breathe will leave us tense, strained, and on the edge of burnout. Too much “flow” without intentional direction allows our energy to diffuse without making the impact we envisioned. 

Just as a singer learns to align airflow and subglottic pressure for a resonant, sustainable tone, we can learn to align our pace and our obligations, creating space for both productivity and rest.

When we find that balance, our days take on a steady rhythm, full yet free, and our creativity resonates more clearly in the world.”

Accepting the presence of different truths shifts a cycle of stagnation or fear to one of growth. Maybe running errands during rush hour after work doesn’t count as play time, but jamming out in the car to your favorite songs and treating yourself to an extra snack that didn’t make the shopping list will certainly make it more fun and fulfilling, turning a task to be done into one you will enjoy spending your time completing.

This can also be applied to the messier and more difficult parts of life. Instead of thinking, “I can’t do this forever…” we can shift our mindset to, “Right now, I am taking a necessary break and will come back after some rest.”

Mother Nature, as always, has the perfect inspiration for maintaining a sustainable balance. Where we (and our therapists) might call it the #!@?ing dichotomy, we look to her for endless examples of the golden ratio. Like branches on a tree, parts of the whole are not all equal in size, rather they work together to fill out the bigger picture. The golden ratio is indeed a compelling inspiration to fit all of our own individual parts together like interlocking puzzle pieces, and it is inherently present in nature, human anatomy, and more.

Read More: 9 Examples of the Golden Ratio in Nature, from Pinecones to the Human Body

Unraveling the Enigma of the Golden Ratio in Nature: A Fascinating Journey

As creative women, we live our whole lives embracing truths that keep us grounded. One of those truths is that no matter what, we are enough. We are whole and inherently worthy of embracing our own ever-shifting harmonious ratio. Yes, even when we clock out of work, there is still work to do in order to maintain our homes and lifestyles. And yes, even when we play and reclaim our time outside of worldly necessity and perceived productivity, there are so many lessons and opportunities for growth that we can apply to other aspects of life.

As you explore the possibilities of your own golden ratio this week, pencil in some “Grace Space” to try out a new balance for yourself. It’s okay if it feels strange, because it’s new! Let your curiosity and instinct lead you to create your own unique and ever-evolving ideal balance.