Mark Twain said “I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life; the problem is that I can’t find anybody who can tell me what they want.”

This is one of the biggest dilemmas of the human condition today. Setting and achieving external goals are important but of equal importance are our internal goals and our internal mindset. What really matters to us, who we are, what we stand for.

It is so easy to get caught up on the treadmill of life and lose focus on how you want to grow as a person. Do you have a philosophy of your own life? Do you know your core values and the type of person you want to be? Or are you just focused on your to do list?

If your life is chaotic and out of control you can still create a life you love. But this means slowing down to re-evaluate your values and priorities and making considered choices about how you are investing your time and energy. This is what helps to create balance, and being balanced allows us to focus on what really matters.

Our fast paced society constantly tries to throw us out of balance and sometimes no matter what we do we still feel like life is not going in the direction we want. Creating and living a balanced life is not as complicated as it sounds. Part of leading a balanced life is when you are able to offset the negative events in your life with positive ones, and focus on what is important in the grand scheme of your own personal life plan.

When you’re leading a balanced life you can feel it.You get the sense that your life is moving along steadily and you take things in your stride. You feel healthy and energized. You feel challenged in your life but relaxed enough to enjoy the challenge. Most of all you have time for fun, friends and family. You know who you are, and where you’re going, and you’re enjoying the ride and appreciating every moment.

Are you leading a life you love? Are you living with passion and purpose and taking time to smell the roses along the way?

This month’s Mantra by Mac Anderson urges us to think about these questions.

“Find what makes your heart sing and create your own music”