For example, one of my clients did not want to "adjust to the world," rather he wanted to have a nice paced practice and provide the best adjustment on each and every visit. With his choice of technique, there was more time required for assessment and outcome post adjustment. When we looked at his mission statement, it was not in harmony with his goal as it stated, "to serve as many people as possible in my community with the best chiropractic care." He also wanted a wellness practice, but when I looked at his intake form, the first question was on describing pain. Once he worked on getting clear on what he really wanted, he then was able to harmonize his mission statement to his values, style of practice and forms. The practice began to grow again.

So, why would we want to program ourselves with balance - implying no growth or movement and that which is incongruent with life? No wonder it is so difficult to search for then attain and maintain. If we look at the word "harmony" it implies synchronization, coherence, congruence and coordination. Harmony represents a synchronous dance between tense and relaxed moments. It really is this congruous, compatible thought, feeling and behavior. Harmony in music comes from the organization, timing and placing of notes, including rests to create order. This can be applied in sports, business, families, communities and toward ourselves.

Is your practice growing and "in harmony with the environment?" If you gain an income from your community, how are you giving back to your region? Or are you "in-balance?" Are you allotting time to develop the "self" [you] in practice? I hit a wall a few years ago in that I was constantly busy – and loving it. It wasn't until I had a life-threatening experience that I looked at what I was really doing. It was like running an engine on full, all of the time. While this is not good for the engine, it is also not sustainable. I was not in harmony with life principles.

All life requires time for growth and repair, and there is a rest and active stage. Are you taking the time to harmonize on-time with down-time? Activity with rest? Growth with repair? Plants do not survive without the harmony of air, sun, water and soil. Too much of one thing or too little of another, throws them from expressing their ideal life expression.

As doctors, we set the stage and the example for our staff, patients and community. It does not mean we need to subscribe to an unattainable standard. It does mean we should reflect, review and fine-tune what we do, how we do it and how we communicate. There is nothing wrong with also carefully sharing the struggle in how difficult some things may be for you. For example, some of my coaching clients are not their ideal weight. While they are endeavoring to drop excess pounds, they can relate to those patients who are working on similar issues.

Harmonized groups can exhibit some friction, but in a way or at a level that works. The harmony is productive. Passionate discourse can be harmonious when people can come together to have spirited discussions. Their energy is going into the relationship and it may at times move forward, backwards, sideways or temporarily pause. When is inner harmony achieved? Is it when we are in the moments of peace and contentment? When we're aware of our self? How do you recognize your experience of harmony? How does it show up in your body, in your thinking?

Life might express with ease or in-flow. Some speak of being in the zone. It may express through being lost in the moment where you lose track of time and space. You might be more creative or express a wider range of solutions to everyday experiences. Perhaps you will be more present and be able to decompress from your day.

How's your life-work balance working out for you? By virtue of thinking about life-work balance aren't you actually thinking about what you do not have or need to get, which means we are in fact not in balance? We work from the negative when in this pattern. Rather, consider harmonizing life-work. You may prefer the dance. Your focus can encompass the mindfulness of moving energy to or from one area of life to the other.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostasis
2. Sterling, P. and Eyer, J., 1988, Allostasis: A new paradigm to explain arousal pathology. In: S. Fisher and J. Reason (Eds.), Handbook of Life Stress, Cognition and Health. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

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Dr. Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock is a chiropractor, speaker, author and professional health coach. Recent author of "Pearls of Wisdom - Pure and Powerful" an authentic book to which any woman can relate. "Dr. Liz" has enjoyed a huge family practice, served on numerous committees, boards and provided guidance to many in both the professional and public sector. She is well known in the pediatric chiropractic arena, has published numerous papers and continues to keep busy. Join her with group coaching of "Pearls" through or join her on Twitter or Facebook.