How do we know if our life is out of balance? Well, most of us just know. We simply need to admit it and exercise the discipline to change, substituting higher values and better habits for those we have been living. We need to follow the counsel of President Spencer W. Kimball to “do it now” before any further damage is caused by our lack of attention to other indispensable parts of life.
Donald L. Hallstrom, "Seeking a Balanced Life", BYU Speeches, August 17, 2017
Balance in life is a lot like balancing plates atop poles. We all try to balance many different plates in our lives, trying not to let a single one fall and break. And what happens is that our focus becomes on the plates, making sure we are constantly spinning them, and not letting any one of them fall, as opposed to focusing on what's on the plate in the first place.
I am learning that the only plate that truly matters is Christ and His gospel. I cannot let that one stop spinning and fall. If we can only focus on one, this is the one. We are promised that if we focus on this one, all others plates will remain balanced and spinning. But that takes a lot of faith. To trust that everything else, all other plates, will be taken care of is not easy.
So, I'm learning that God does one of two things when I seek Him before all else and keep my focus on Him and His Son.
One, He goes ahead and keeps spinning the plate Himself for me so it doesn't fall. In other words, He gives me blessings and makes it so I don't have to worry about that one thing. For example, if I pay my tithing, He will make it so I have sufficient for my needs financially somehow.
Or, two, He gives me added capability so that I have the capacity to make each and every plate spin. In other words, He gives me additional strength stamina, mental capacity, physical capacity, extra ability, etc., so that I can keep moving forward. For example, think of the pioneers heading west to Salt Lake under unimaginable circumstances. Do you think He gave them a bit extra in order to make it?
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. - 3 Nephi 13:33
I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. - 1 Nephi 3:7