Finding Balance.

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my 25 years—almost 26—of living, it’s that finding balance is easier said than done.

One minute, you have a solid routine going. Next, you’re leaving the country and stepping into what feels like an entirely new world.

Suddenly, life feels out of balance.
It feels like you’ve lost control.

That’s exactly how I felt at first.
But it does get better.

We have to learn to show ourselves the same grace we so easily give to others.

Once we release the pressure of needing everything to be a certain way—some might even say perfect—we begin to realize just how much stress we’re placing on ourselves.

And as someone going into medicine, I think we can all agree: stress is no bueno. Overthinking comes easily, especially when so much feels uncertain, but learning to quiet that noise is part of the process. It may not happen overnight, but we must try.

Try to stop fixating on what feels imperfect in your life right now.
Try to shift your focus away from what isn’t going right, and instead, notice what is.

Balance doesn’t mean everything is flawless.
It means learning how to hold the chaos with compassion.

These past few days, my routine—morning gym sessions, iced coffee runs, and avocado toast—has looked a little different.

Instead of letting guilt creep in because I missed workouts or my meals weren’t exactly “on track,” I chose to give myself grace. I offered myself the same kindness I would give a friend navigating a big transition.

And maybe that’s the lesson.

Finding balance takes time, and it rarely looks the way we expect it to. Some days will flow exactly according to plan. Other days will feel like a complete mess.

But balance can exist in simply knowing that both are okay.

We need to be gentler with ourselves. Because at the end of the day, it’s just you—learning, growing, and doing your best with this little life of yours.