Balance: Elusive noun, Achievable Verb
In Gary Keller’s book, The One Thing, he insists that the word “balance” is best used as a verb, rather than a noun. He believes that balance as a noun - a place of destination, or thing to be obtained - is elusive. And that instead, balance should be interpreted as a verb - a constant, vigilant action.
When in the act of balancing we generate a linked series of corrections, hopefully growing more delicate as we practice and improve our skill. Eventually corrections may become so small that they are noticed only to the balancer, and not to an observer - creating an illusion of effortless and perfect stillness where there is actually constant focus, feedback, and readjustment.
With this interpretation of balance, the corrections we make in our life, even unsteady and abrupt ones, can be seen as part of our deeply personal discovery of our own path through the action of straying from the gravel and into the grass on the left, and then the right, and then the left again until we develop the ability to adjust quickly after even the slightest tickle of grass on our toes.
“Nothing ever achieves absolute balance. Nothing.
No matter how imperceptible it might be, what appears to be a state of balance is something entirely different - an act of balancing.
Viewed wistfully as a noun, balance is lived practically as a verb.
Seen as something we ultimately attain, balance is actually something we constantly do.”