The Myth of Balance: Why Alignment Matters More | Op-Ed
Balance sounds good on paper, but real freedom comes from alignment, choosing what truly matters in each season and letting go of the guilt of trying to do it all. We discuss it here!
Why Alignment Matters Over Balance
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By: Jamila Gomez
We love to talk about “balance” like it’s the secret to a better life. Balance between work and home. Balance between ambition and rest. Balance between giving to others and pouring into yourself. It sounds good. It feels like the responsible goal. But balance is a myth.
Balance assumes everything gets equal weight. That you can divide your life into neat little sections and tend to each of them the same way. But life has never worked like that. Some seasons pull more from you than others. Some roles demand more of your energy. And sometimes, the very thing that gives you life will cost you in another area.
Think about it: if you’re pouring yourself into building a business, you may not have time to keep a spotless home. If you’re caring for family, you may not have the bandwidth to take on every opportunity at work. If you’re chasing a dream, you may sacrifice money, time, or comfort to get there. None of that means you’re failing—it means you’re human.
The problem with balance is that it sets us up for constant guilt. If you can’t give everything equal attention, you start to feel like you’re falling short everywhere. Instead of appreciating the areas where you’re actually thriving, you zero in on what’s slipping. Balance becomes another measuring stick that proves you’re not enough.
What if we shifted the focus from balance to alignment? Alignment means your choices match your values. It means you’re clear about what matters most right now, and you organize your life around that. Instead of chasing equal slices of the pie, you’re choosing what deserves your energy in this season.
Alignment frees you from the myth that everything has to get equal time. Some days you’ll give more to work, some days to family, some days to yourself. What matters is whether those choices reflect the life you want to build—not whether they look even on a scale.
The truth is, balance was never the goal. Wholeness is. Integrity is. Living a life that feels like yours, even when it’s lopsided from the outside. When you stop trying to measure your worth by how “balanced” you are, you start giving yourself permission to be present where it counts.
So no, I don’t believe in balance anymore. I believe in alignment. I believe in seasons. I believe in showing up fully where I’m called, even if it means letting something else wait. That’s not failure. That’s focus. And it’s a lot more honest than the myth of balance.
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You Can Be Aligned—and Still Feel Overlooked
Feeling overlooked while walking in your purpose is normal—alignment doesn't always come with applause, but your work, truth, and growth still matter deeply. We discuss it here!
Photo Credit: Jay Yuno via iStockPhoto.com
By: Jamila Gomez
Let’s go ahead and tell the truth:
You can be aligned. You can be clear on your purpose, committed to your path, and doing the work with your whole heart—and still feel overlooked.
Still feel like no one’s seeing you.
Still feel like you’re showing up for a room that stays quiet.
Still feel like you’re doing everything “right” and wondering if any of it matters.
That’s the part nobody tells you about when they talk about purpose and passion.
That you can be walking in alignment with everything you’re called to do and still question yourself. Not because you lack direction, but because the world around you hasn’t caught up to what you’re building.
It’s a hard space to sit in.
Especially when you’re watching other people get the visibility, the support, the success—while you’re still grinding quietly, trying not to take it personal.
But here’s what you need to know:
Silence is not a sign of failure.
And slowness is not a sign that you’re lost.
You are not being punished for choosing purpose.
You are not invisible just because you aren’t being applauded.
You are not on the wrong path just because no one’s walking beside you yet.
The work you’re doing matters, even if it hasn’t gone viral.
The truth you’re sharing matters, even if it hasn’t “converted” yet.
And the healing you’re offering—through your story, your creativity, your courage—is still reaching the people it’s meant to, even if it’s one soul at a time.
So if you’re feeling discouraged, not because you’re unmotivated but because you’re unseen, hold onto this:
You don’t need to be celebrated to be in alignment.
You just need to keep showing up as yourself.
That is the work. That is the calling. That is enough.
And even if no one’s clapping yet—you’re still becoming.
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