What If It’s Not About Balance… But Rhythm?
How often have you told yourself, “I just need to find more balance”?
It’s a phrase that floats around in conversation like a goalpost we should all be chasing. Balance in work and rest. Balance in parenting and partnering. Balance in food, fitness, and friendships. It sounds reasonable—noble, even.
But lately, we’ve wondered: Is balance really what we’re after? Or are we yearning for something that feels a little more human and alive—something like rhythm?
Cris Jansen recently wrote in Simplicity Magazine,
“Aiming for rhythm is a far kinder way to get where you want to go. Rhythm is a cadence you can dance to. It allows for dips and twirls and the unexpected.”
That line stopped us in our tracks.
Balance, while beautiful in theory, often feels like a tightrope walk. It implies perfection—carefully calibrating time, energy, and emotions. One misstep, and things feel out of whack.
But rhythm? Rhythm offers movement. Variation. Grace.
Rhythm invites us to tune in to what lights us up, to pay attention to our energy, joy, needs, and season of life, and to create a flow that honors those things.
What Does Rhythm Feel Like?
Rhythm isn’t about doing it all daily—it’s about creating a cadence that supports your life over time.
It might look like:
Cooking nourishing meals most of the week, but allowing weekends to be looser, more playful, and celebratory.
Moving your body when your energy is high and resting when you need to slow down.
Creating space for connection one week and solitude the next.
Knowing when to show up fully and when to retreat and refill your cup.
Spending time with people who make you feel most like yourself, and stepping back from those who leave you feeling off-balance.
Diving into purpose-driven work or play that gives your days meaning, and permitting yourself to pause when you need space to breathe.
In rhythm, we honor the natural ebbs and flows of our energy. We allow joy and meaning to guide us more than a checklist. We shift from striving to aligning. Finding rhythm isn’t just about productivity but connection to who and what matters most.
When we move with rhythm, grounded in connection and purpose, we find our way back to our most authentic self—the one who knows what matters, and moves through life in harmony with it.
An Invitation to Reflect
Instead of asking yourself, “How can I be more balanced?” try asking:
What rhythms feel good in my current season?
Where do I feel energized? Where do I feel drained?
What kind of flow would support me right now?
Am I giving myself space for spontaneity, creativity, or delight?
Who or what helps me feel most like myself, and am I making time for that connection?
Rhythm doesn’t demand perfection—it invites presence.
So maybe we can stop pressuring ourselves to “get it all right” and instead start listening to our rhythm—the one that’s uniquely ours, one that allows for dips, twirls, and the unexpected beauty of this midlife season.
Let’s not just aim for balance. Let’s move to the rhythm of our lives. When we honor our natural rhythms—anchored by purpose and fueled by connection—we create space to keep going and come home to ourselves.