Balance
Finding balance is a difficult thing. As music therapy interns, students, and professionals, it doesn’t get easier. We are constantly bombarded by things both in the field and in our own personal lives that make it difficult to find balance. So what can we do to help achieve that balance?
A good start would be to take time for self-reflection. Maybe start with 5 minutes, and as you self-reflect, remember to meet yourself with gentleness and as much as you can, notice what judgment(s) you may have for yourself. Achieving balance looks different for everyone because we each prioritize our lives differently. Prioritizing the things we deem most important can be effective in the short-term, but in the long-term failing to prioritize other things in our lives can eventually cause our lives to be out of balance.
As you reflect, think about the things you prioritize and why you prioritize them. Ensure that you honor the areas where it may be essential to place high priority, then determine whether or not it needs to be a high priority. If it is, keep working at it. If not, it’s okay to move that lower on the list.
What categories are on your list?
Work
Family
Friends
Hobbies
Passions
Beliefs
These areas are all important to balance out our lives. There are things and people we care about that can sometimes fall to the wayside due to circumstances in our life, and work. There is work that can sometimes fall to the wayside due to circumstances within our relationships. Consider the things that you have let fall to the wayside for one reason or another, and think about if you need to prioritize that part of your life.
After reflecting on your priorities, give yourself an opportunity to engage in that priority. If it is work, perhaps make a to-do list of tasks and start by doing one task on that list. If it is a relationship, perhaps reach out to the person, send a text, or ask them to coffee. If it is a passion or hobby, engage in that and allow yourself to enjoy the time spent in that moment.
Once you’ve reflected on your priorities and taken action, take the opportunity to evaluate. Do you feel satisfied with your engagement? Do you feel like you may need to reprioritize again? If yes, start the process over. If you are satisfied, continue on and check in every now and then.
There is no state of perfection in finding balance. You can continue to work, process, and assess where you are in the moment. It is okay if you let things go out of balance, but it is important to remember that you have the full capability of bringing yourself back in balance.
During my internship, I have had to practice balance in so many different ways. I’ve practiced balance with my time, my family, my friends, my cat, and the music I enjoy with the music I have had to practice for repertoire. I wouldn’t have done anything differently during my internship. I think the journey that I have gone through these 9 months has been very valuable in my growth as a professional and as a person. For future interns – dive in! There’s going to be so much to learn and you might not be able to hold onto everything, but it is all good. The process is the treasure.
Remember that balancing is no easy feat, but if you lean into it, it does relieve some of the pressure. It is important to keep adjusting and moving forward.
Gently,
Eric Amparo, Music therapy intern.
