The Hidden Pain of Balance

This morning, I had a chat with the coworking space owner where I work. He shared a funny story about running another coworking unit in a different city. One evening, he turned off the espresso machine at closing time. But in the middle of the night, he realized the machine had a cooling unit for milk. Without electricity, the milk would spoil. So he got up and drove back just to turn the machine on again.

"Why is it so easy to cut the electricity if it’s that risky?" I asked.

“Well, it wasn’t easy,” he said. “The button was hidden under the machine. But I guess not well enough for people like me.”

This got me thinking about a common topic: balance.

We’ve all seen those social media posts of a person in perfect yoga pose, against a sunset, talking about "finding balance." But real balance—in life, business, or technology—doesn’t look like that. It’s messy, dynamic, and often uncomfortable.

Real Balance is Like Walking a Tightrope

Imagine a tightrope walker. Their balance isn’t still; it’s a constant dance of small adjustments, tension, and sometimes big swings. Each step demands focus, strength, and accepting that perfection isn’t possible. That’s real balance—not the absence of movement, but the mastery of it.

The Painful Price of Change

Take the retired executive who worked 80-hour weeks for decades and then faced endless free time. We’ve all heard of retirees who lose purpose and decline quickly. They lose their familiar work-life tension and struggle to build a new one. Balance here isn’t just finding the right spot; it’s about keeping the stress that keeps them engaged.

The Balancing Act in Medicine and Tech

In pharmaceuticals, balance is crucial. Each drug walks a line between safety and effectiveness. For example, a cancer treatment may save many but still pose risks to some. The FDA doesn’t aim for perfect safety (it doesn’t exist) but makes sure the benefits outweigh the risks.

In technology, it’s similar. Think about passwords. “There’s no password a 60-year-old can reset that a 16-year-old can’t crack.” Security teams always balance user access with system safety. Too much security, and people can’t use their accounts. Too little, and the system is at risk. The “right” balance isn’t comfortable—it’s just less painful than the alternatives.

Embrace the Discomfort

The right balance often hurts a bit. In business, finding the balance between innovation and stability may mean letting go of old but profitable products. In relationships, balance may mean accepting that some conflicts are healthy.

Moving Forward

Next time you think of balance, don’t picture a calm yoga pose. Picture a surfer riding a wave—always adjusting, sometimes falling, always moving forward. Real balance isn’t about getting rid of tension; it’s about finding the right tension to keep us moving and growing.

So, if your balance feels too comfortable, maybe you’re not balancing anything at all. The best points of balance in life usually come with some discomfort—and that’s not just okay, it’s necessary.