How Do You Balance Your Life?

In the new Fox Faith movie "Her Best Move," Sara Davis must navigate all of the typical high school angst most teenagers experience, but she has to do it while outperforming everyone else on the soccer field. Under the watchful eye of her father, Sara has rapidly become a rising star with a chance to become the youngest woman ever on the U.S. National Development Team. The problem is, achieving this goal has come at the expense of other hopes and dreams and Sara is beginning to wonder if it's worth it. As Sara tries to experiment with some directions for her life she discovers that balancing her goals on and off the field is going to take more strength and heart than she's ever had before.

Sound familiar? No matter who we are, finding balance in our lives is tricky.We want to be good parents, friends, co-workers, and community members, but how can we balance all of those responsibilities and still find time for our own needs and desires? When we asked Beliefnet readers for their stories about how they find and maintain balance in their lives, they all agreed one thing: that it's impossible to do without a little help from God. Click through the gallery and read about how some Beliefnet members have discovered the truth of the Bible verse, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" ( I Corinthians 10:31) as one way to achieve balance and harmony in their lives.

Healthy Start

For the first time in 16 years, I did not work for the summer. At first I was devastated over the amount of money that I would not have, as God knows that I really needed it; but what has been even more mind-boggling (or should I say heaven-inspired?) is that I have actually begun to take care of me. [I] made an appointment to see my [doctor] who was not there, but his partner was. What a Godsend! She sent me for a nuclear imaging stress test and a colonoscopy. Somehow talking to this woman was different. I did not fight about any of the tests. There is something to be said to see your heart rate resting and then as you exercise. I have a lot of work to do but God is good. I even got braces, as my overbite was beginning to literally eat into my bottom lip.

With braces, I have no choice but to curtail my crazy eating and eat soft healthy foods like veggies and fruits. I also stopped using sugar and actually enjoy eating oatmeal with soy milk. Yes I am afraid of all of the changes but they are for the better. I have to take care of myself because God is not finish with me yet. I don't know where I will end up and how I will get there, but I do know that I will be healthier, more consciously aware of God's power as I cannot believe that I am not eating potato chips or Doritos and actually don't miss them. I have other pressing problems, don't get me wrong, but taking this time for me and beginning to get my health in order is going to open the doors for me to have the confidence to pursue a passion I have but have been too afraid to go for it.

--Ayv1soul