At the heart of our struggle for a balanced life is our incessant need to have it all, do it all, and be all things to all people. In trying to stay on what I will call “the treadmill”, we find ourselves on what appears to be a never-ending grind. Many of us are better than others at getting through our weekly checklist of meetings, activities, work, and family responsibilities. But after getting through it all, most people are ready to collapse and they have little time or energy for those things that matter most. I have found myself in this position before and it’s not a great place to be.

When we talk about “having it all”, we usually mean having a life that allows us to enjoy those things that are most important to us. Typically, this includes our families, careers, friends, and other interests. I believe that “having it all” is a challenge in today’s fast-paced world because we attempt to have it all at the same time. I believe that you can have it all and enjoy a satisfying life if you understand that life, like most things, is a process. Life is an experience that plays out over time and that is the key!

Would you like to get back to family dinners; weekend drives around the city; reading a great book; a nap on Sunday afternoons; or “date night” with your sweetheart? If this is what you desire, you can have it. It can be yours if you choose to push the stop button, get off the treadmill, and start your walk in the park holding hands with the people and experiences that you cherish most. Whether you are a corporate executive, working wife and mother, college student, or community volunteer, you have 168 hours each week for the things that are important to you. Create margins in your life!

Create margins by choosing those things that are important to you. Turn off the cell phone for an hour so that you can enjoy your morning walk; is there always a need to multi-task? Schedule your evening meetings at 7 PM instead of 6 PM so you can have dinner with your family. Instead of having someone watch the kids while you grocery shop, have someone grocery shop for you so that you can enjoy that time with your kids. If you are on a call, do you really need to click-over when a new call comes in? Honor the person you are talking to by giving them your full attention.

There are many things you can do to create margins. If you desire a life that includes those special moments, create it! Life was meant to be lived with margins, now live it!

I have been aware for many years that by overcoming my fear of public speaking, my confidence and ability to live my dreams would be boosted in an incredible way. I decided then to challenge myself. I joined a public speaking group and volunteered to be the first one to do a presentation on the topic “Dare to Change Your Life!” I received great reviews about my skills and the content of my presentation. It has taken me more than 20 years to reach this point. After the presentation, I asked myself why I had taken so long to try…to dare.

When we take one step of boldness, somehow, somewhere, doors of opportunity open. It is always that first step that holds many of us back. Yet, that one step can open so many doors, especially inner doors. I was asked to do a presentation to students on how they should plan their life for success. I am so much looking forward to it! I am now also working on a concrete plan to develop my public-speaking skills. I have embarked on this beautiful journey full of wonders. I have opened my ‘self’ to life, just because I dared take that one step.

Aïda Ba is a life coach, wife and mother living in Dakar, Senegal West Africa.

Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Send us a quick note at doubledarechallenge@thegracefullife.com and let us know your challenge and your success story. We want to hear from you!

How do you hold it all together through international conference calls as your Blackberry™ tweets while someone is writing on your Facebook™ wall? Success-oriented people are notorious for trying to have it all, do it all, and be all things to all people. But is that really possible in our fast-paced, ever-changing, always connected world? How can you make it all happen and maintain peace in your life? In this workshop, Professional Coach Felecia Roseburgh will help you determine how to create balance and peace in each step of your day. Join us for this engaging and enjoyable session!

The workshop includes continental breakfast, professional coaching, and all workshop materials. Pre-registration is required. To register, contact The Graceful Life Coaching and Consulting at 317.402.0520 or via e-mail at info@thegracefullife.com.

The Graceful Life Coaching and Consulting™ is a professional coaching and global business consulting firm that helps individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations, maximize the potential that lies within the human spirit. We are a life transformation firm that was launched to help people design lives that are authentic and purposeful. We help our clients design solutions that empower the individual. We use our creative expertise in coaching to help individuals live authentically. We use our creative expertise in consulting to help businesses, churches, and organizations implement solutions that are authentic to their vision, mission, and organizational purpose.