We live in a culture that praises multitasking—celebrating those who appear to “have it all together” while juggling work deadlines, parenting, friendships, caregiving, faith, and personal goals. But what if balance isn’t about keeping every ball in the air? What if true balance is knowing which balls can be safely dropped?
I think life is like juggling a mix of glass and rubber balls. The key to living with wisdom and peace is knowing the difference.
- Rubber balls bounce. They represent responsibilities or roles that will be fine if set down for a time.
- Glass balls are fragile. If dropped, they may crack—or even shatter.
Rubber balls might include answering every message right away, maintaining a spotless home, attending every social event, or saying yes to every request. These may feel urgent, but if they fall for a bit, nothing breaks. They bounce. They wait.
Glass balls are different: your mental and emotional health, your children’s well-being, your marriage, your faith, your recovery journey. These are precious and harder to repair if neglected.
Yet in a world of constant demands, we often confuse the two. We feel shame for letting the small things slide and pride in burning ourselves out for others. But that isn’t sustainable, healthy, or necessary.
Boundaries help us prioritize what’s sacred. If you haven’t read the book “Boundaries” by Cloud and Townsend give it a read, you won’t be disappointed. They aren’t about selfishness or avoidance—they’re about stewardship. They free you to show up fully where it matters most, and release the pressure to perform where it doesn’t.
So let me ask you:
- What are the balls you’ve been straining to keep in the air?
- What might it feel like to let a rubber ball fall—and trust that it will bounce?
In therapy, we explore these questions together. We identify the pressures you carry, the beliefs driving them, and the values worth protecting. Needing help doesn’t mean weakness—it reflects wisdom.
You don’t have to juggle it all. You just have to know what’s worth holding. And we’d be honored to help you discern that—while walking with you as you set down what no longer serves you.
I found this article Jessie in our Austin office wrote about anxiety to be especially helpful for those trying to decipher when something moves from a struggle to set good limits and boundaries to overwhelming anxiety. Give it a look and see what you think.