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September 21 -October 12, 2015 16 Working World l WorkingWorld.com FEATURE ARTICLE by Lumbie Mlambo L ife sometimes can seem off kilter as responsibilities mount and peo- ple plow all their physical and men- tal resources into what seems to be the most pressing crisis of the moment. But Lumbie Mlambo says that's a good time to take a step back. Everyone has the potential to shine in life's darkest mo- ments, but the key to achieving goals and an overall better ex- istence is to maintain a balance so that one aspect of your life isn't consumed by another. While some people might say bal- ance in life is an impossible goal, she disagrees and says when each of us find our equilibrium, we become more productive and a greater asset to our communities. "There's balance in everything we do, be it walking, talking, eating, sleeping, working or spending time with family," says Mlambo, editor of Equanimity Mag- azine (www.equanimitymag.com), an online publication that features inspiring stories of life and success. "For example, look at how we try to deal with our work-life situation. We balance our workload so that we can still make room for other activities, to spend more time with our spouses or our children. We do that because we under- stand how important it is." She offers these reasons for why living a balanced life is essential. • The health factor. Staying balanced is a key to a healthier and successful life. Both mental health and physical health benefit, and as a result, so do our overall lives. "When we're healthy, we're able to care for ourselves and others in our community," Mlambo says. • The empathy factor. When we find balance in life, we can better under- stand the importance of helping the underprivileged, says Mlambo, who grew up in a rural area in Zimbabwe. You begin to realize that someday you could be in their situation, which makes you a more empathetic per- son. "Your economic situation is like your health," she says. "Nothing is guaranteed." • The role-model factor. Sharing our stories – whether it's a tale of success or even a tale of failure – is important because others can learn from us or be inspired by us as they too strive for a balanced life. "When you tell your story, it empowers, motivates and encourages people to not give up on their dreams and goals," Mlambo says. "Maybe you think your story is just not that interesting or important. But for someone out there, it may be the spark that ignites them to great things." Mlambo always strove to find balance in her life. But she became even more passionate about it after she suffered a stroke in 2001 that left her partially paralyzed. She since has recovered, but says the event had a profound impact on her and she will always consider herself a stroke patient. "Before the stroke, I thought my life was balanced in a way," she says. "I mean, I ate healthy foods. I exercised seven days a week. But it was not balanced in the way I wanted. I had been too focused on myself. I realized that life was not just about me, but about others." 3 Reasons A Balanced Life Is A Better Life At Work And At Home, Success Depends On Finding Equilibrium, Magazine Editor And Stroke Survivor Says Everyone has the potential to shine in life's darkest moments, but the key to achieving goals and an overall better existence is to maintain a balance so that one aspect of your life isn't consumed by another.