Harmonic Balance: Qigong and the Art of Keeping Many Balls in the Air.

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Vicki Dello Joio

Harmony is two or more different notes that are played together to create a rich and multi-layered texture, balancing diverse voices to form “a chord,” or accord.   The Way of Joy (excerpt)

Life is pretty accelerated for me these days, as it seems to be for so many people I talk to. I have many projects up — both right in front of me and in the pipeline. As I wrote in a recent Facebook post, “Sometimes my projects feel like a hydra. As soon as I lop off one head, a dozen other ones appear…Arghhhh”

The trick of keeping multiple balls in the air can be overwhelming. At the same time, because I love (and feel committed) to all of what I’m doing, I’ve never responded very well to the admonishment, “you just need to do less— just choose!”

While I am very aware of the dangers of spreading myself too thin, or becoming the dreaded “Jack of all trades, Master of none,” I feel from the marrow of my bones that I am actually taking on a lot because I know (under some of the self-imposed stress and anxiety) that I can.

What are some of the tools you use to successfully manage your energy in the face of an accumulation of “To Dos” ?

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Vicki Dello Joio, founder of The Way of Joy: A Spiritual Fitness Program, is a teacher, speaker and performing artist. Integrating over 40 years of Chi Kung practice with other martial arts as well as her work in Yoga, Feldenkreis, physical fitness and theater, Vicki has developed a dynamic set of tools to increase awareness, transform obstacles into opportunities and enhance creative potential. Book: The Way of Joy, CD: Short Meditations for a Busy Life.

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  • Annie Kane

    Thanks Vicki. Most useful vlog for me this week. Encountering a number of situations that have tugged at my balance; six month old Sophie, 3 year old Lily, competition between Grandmas, unfamiliar surroundings, state of the art washers and dryers with cryptic directions on buttons, to name a few.
    Just sitting here in front of the screen with you doing Lotus Balance brought me down/up (?) to a different place.
    With gratitude,
    Annie

  • Cathy Winsor

    This was great for me today as I stretched myself too thin to get anything accomplished. But, rather than lie in bed and feel sorry for myself as I was wont to do, I got up and started walking. Everything then came into perspective and I got all my “to do’s” done!! XXXCathy

  • Marieme

    To answer your question: I allow myself to say NO now and it is very liberating! Thank you for sharing :)

  • JudyStoneGoldman

    I go back on forth on this issue! Sometimes I want to lay claim to so many different things I enjoy, and other times I recognize that I am torn in too many directions. Of late I’ve made myself a basic list of what is essential in my life – both practically and creatively – and I’m working on sticking with those. I’ve also had to accept that I am me, and not someone else who might be able to handle more. Accepting limitations without seeing that as a defeat (maybe it’s the opposite!) is a good challenge for me. I’m learning to appreciate the limits and to value my ability to set them as an equal part of my growth.

  • http://www.fourquadrantliving.com Dina Colman

    Yes, I am feeling like this right now. Growing a client practice, building my platform, trying to get my book published. So many things I could be doing to make all of this happen – which ones to do first. Thank you for the balancing today.