Balance vs Harmony

I've been pondering on this idea of balance.  We all hear people mention it, we ourselves may be seeking it.  Work life balance is a common one.  It might also be fitness and weight, or financial balance of money in and money out, it might be rest and pushing forwards towards a goal.   

My question is ... is balance even possible?  And if it is, does it last? 

The definition of balance is "a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions."  To me the idea that something would be equal sounds almost impossible.  Ask anyone who has kids when sharing a piece of cake! It would mean that to achieve work life balance for example, I would need to have equal amounts of energy, focus or time in my work and home/life. Sounds appealing. Even if it were possible to achieve balance, would it stay like that?

In life, as we find in nature, there's an ebb and flow, a coming and going, a rising and falling. In reality nothing is static, everything is constantly changing. If you get your health on track perhaps your work falls out of whack. If work is going great, how are those relationships doing. Lets say you have a degree of happiness and contentment in the key areas of your life and then something unexpected happens or there's some curveball.

My sense is that harmony is perhaps a better way of describing what we are seeking. Harmony is more about living peacefully alongside each aspects.  Therefore it's not a dichotomy or a competition between forces, and more of considering which areas of our life need focus and attention and recognising that these may change over time.

I wonder if the idea of harmony allows more of the ebb and flow of life, and recognise that it's ok for priorities to change.  Perhaps take a moment to consider which areas in your life are out of harmony? Which aspect of your life if you could focus on it would bring you the greatest sense of purpose, contentment and joy?