By Wezi Tjaronda WINDHOEK Balance, though the most sought-after state of being, does not seem to come naturally anymore. Balance as mental and emotional stability in finding the equilibrium seems to evade most members of the human race especially women, most of whose lives can best be described as hectic, hectic, hectic. This, some say, stems from the belief that women want to be superwomen in the pursuit of which they are in constant motion, juggling between countless roles, which not only make them perpetually exhausted but also make them deteriorate health-wise. As mothers, wives, professionals, entrepreneurs, the list is endless, many live hectic lifestyles. A typical description of their day would be hectic – “work is hectic, children are hectic and the husband is hectic.” This has sent many of them to doctors because they are tired all the time as they try to strike the balance between their many different roles. Recently, Old Mutual Namibia in conjunction with Oprah Magazine held a workshop entitled, “Find Your Balance” in an effort to help women live more balanced lifestyles. And the overwhelming attendance gave testimony to the fact that women want balance in their lives and just need to be told how. Presentations at the workshop included Balanced Health, Raising Balanced Children, Balance for Ageless Beauty, Balance in the Workplace and Balance in Finances. Due to their hectic lives, women according to Health Consultant Dr Linda Friedland are likely to be ill and die earlier because they live busy lives. She also said they are developing chronic diseases at earlier stages – diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease – than before. In cases like these, the body fails to go with its natural flow because of very busy schedules and also during which it is most likely bombarded with not only negative emotions emanating from bitterness, lack of forgiveness and anger, but also toxins in the form of alcohol, smoke, fat and sugar. Chartered accountant and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Nangula Uandja’s presentation on Balance in the Workplace which was more on the spiritual side focused on balance as in knowing what matters most at one’s own terms, without which she said one serves many different interests and as a starting point, one needs to find out one’s purpose on earth. “If you don’t live a purpose-driven life, you end up doing everything under the moon,” she said. According to her, purpose starts with the Creator and realising that one is wonderfully and fearfully made and really finding out what one hates the most and whether there are things you are doing by default. As individuals, women have a duty to be responsible for what they are regarding peace, health and joy. She said a woman as a wife, mother and homemaker is equal to her male counterpart but also different, and women will have no success without a well-looked after and successful family and also play the role of a helper and supporter for their partners while at the same time overcoming the desire to control. While women should define their priorities in order to find balance in their workplaces they should also not neglect their social responsibilities at church, at school and in the community because, she said, “Everyone is an answer to a hurting world.” Raising balanced children emotionally, culturally, physically and financially especially in a world that is constantly changing remains hard because the youth are faced with many revolutions regarding knowledge and information, population explosion, globalization, economy, technology, culture, politics and values. As if this is not enough, children seem to be influenced more by their peers than by their parents, said Judith O’Connel. To raise balanced children one has to love them unconditionally, teach them to be confident, to have good values and that choices have consequences. Most importantly, said O’Connel, parents should trust their children, have high expectations of them but not just a parent’s expectations, have genuine conversation with the children and pray for them. To restore balance, Dr Friedland urged women to exercise the six tools of restoring balance which are: empower, embrace, energise, exercise, eat and enrich. “You can change your lifestyle with the Es by taking charge of everything in your life. “Take responsibility for your perceptions, live your truth and your health is in your hands and not in the hands of your doctor,” Friedland said.