How to Balance Your Life | A Monk's Perspective

[@nickkeomahavong01]

How are you currently balancing a material life with a spiritual life?

[@rajushrestha2519]

Working hard to be able to make a good living and spending quality/meaningful moments with family and friends during free time.

[@bridgetjagusch8918]

One of the things is I try not to put too much pressure on myself... It's always work in progress 😀

[@nonisampson697]

Yoga, long walks and meditation. My son tells me if it's not a yoga day it's an ogre day 🤣

[@JennySujey]

It hasn't been easy but by doing my best to follow a daily routine. Going to work when I must & making sure I set time aside to meditate, clear my mind & relax.

[@juliaangelicaa5395]

What a timely released of this vlog Ven Nick. My material life and spiritual life is extremely off balance right now, especially towards the end of 2021. With covid cases on the rise again, people are getting haywire 🙄🤪 👽 Work has been super stressful. I try my best before bedtime to meditate even for 5 min. That way I don't lose my sanity. Thank you for bringing me back to earth 🌎 ✌🏻

[@garldlarrauri7151]

I started practicing meditation 🧘🏽‍♀️ over 14 yrs ago in the morning at4:30am and before going to bed at 9:45 pm and it has changed me in ways I can’t begin to explain I’ve learned not to worry and let go off everything that doesn’t serve me

[@cleareyedsky]

What you said about being gentle with yourself while staying consistent in building a spiritual practice really resonates with me. When I tried to push myself to do long meditations, journal, etc., it was so hard. When you think of your new practice as a seed-starting out tiny and growing slowly as you nurture it-it helps you to establish a healthy and rewarding spiritual life. There’s nothing wrong with you when you get fatigued doing too much, you are just expecting a flourishing tree full of apples when you need to simply plant the seed, water it, and wait patiently for the fruit to appear. When you approach your spiritual discipline in this way, you suddenly look back in grateful surprise at how much you’ve grown, organically and authentically. Thank you, and have a healthy and prosperous 2022, everyone! ❤️

[@MarkusEhringer]

Material vs Spiritual - love how simply you stated the goals for both: Survival & Purity. And keeping a balance in the energy we use for both goals and be aware that this very individual balance will change over a lifetime because life is constant change, constant adaptation, constant evolvement - always keep balancing :)

[@jens6754]

The ambient sounds in the background were an especially good example that there's no need to wait for the perfect moment... just get started! Thank you for a beautiful and practical message for the new year!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Yes definitely 🤣 thank you my friend. You got this!

[@LearnAlbanianOnline]

I thought it was a painting 😭😭😭😭

[@Pati22104]

Your spiritual wisdom and your calming voice is a blessing to our earth. Thank you for your present existence, much love ❤️

[@ashleyslater2685]

AGREED

[@Yoacha123]

I work full time helping treat people with cancer, and have 3 years old boy at home. Hard to find a balance but I have a rule to meditate 🧘‍♂️ 3 time per week and I have only 10 minutes for this but I appreciate what I have now. There will be a time when I will have more time for longer meditation:) I also every time when I can - I hike in our beautiful mountains to be with nature:) sometimes I feel like I have not enough time to be outside. Thank you for sharing wonderful videos ! 😊

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Rejoice in the beautiful work you are doing. It's very important and yes just do what you can. Like you said, the meditation is key so please keep that up. Sending you my regards from Thailand 😊

[@Yoacha123]

@@nickkeomahavong01 thank you! Best regards from New Hampshire in USA 🇺🇸

[@dMi_mi]

Sending You Blessings to Thailand. 😌💖 May Peace be with You 🌱

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu 😊 thank you so much

[@vanja222]

I have only one goal for 2022 ⚖️ BALANCE 🧘🏻‍♀️🍃 Thank you for this video Nick ❤️ Perfect timing!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful my friend. I'm glad it's helpful. Happy 2022 to you ☺️☺️

[@heidigone]

As usual, Nick's video has made me feel lighter. I will just ad that love from my pets is really what I need most.

[@bethreiners5568]

I’m a “I’ll get to it later gal” which means I don’t do half of what I plan. And it’s usually the most important things: exercise, practice, journaling etc. I will assign times for what is.

[@DemetriPanici]

I’m reading “think like a monk” right now and I love it

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful ☺️☺️

[@kimkeck6266]

Thank you for saying this...I will get the book. 🌷🙏🥰

[@janneaburgess911]

🙏 Thank you. 💚 I’m minutes away from heading back to my classroom to prepare for my students’ return from break. I asked my spirit guides last night to lead me to help with balancing it all - development of the sweet humans I share space with and my sanity mostly. I also asked for help with my own spiritual development. And then KZbin sent me your video. Thank you for filling my heart and meddlesome-mind with hope, happiness and the exact ideas I needed. 💚💚💚 (My spirit guides kind of rock!!😃🥰🥰🥰)

[@charleenhaynes3057]

Thank you for your wisdom. I am at present trying to gain my balance in life that was lost in 2021. Being gentle with yourself l feel is the answer right now but to do something rather than nothing now matter how small is a start.

[@shelly6176]

This video came at a perfect time. It was very helpful. Whenever I feel off or not centered I always put on your videos and I get back on track. Thank you for your knowledge and posting these videos. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@julielim3680]

Ven Nick, recently a severed flood hit many parts of my country ,in a few minutes water rise to the roof of houses and there was no time to save their belongings, things that were accumulate over years of hard work were destroy. After this tragedy I learn a humble lesson , I realized that nothing is permanent and all the material wealth Iwas craving for so many years was meaningless. Sometimes I wonder why divine intervention did not happen that day , I mean most peoples will pray to their gods in their hour of needs.

[@monikaolausson4158]

Love to listen to you. You really have a mission here with your knowledge as both a counsellor and a monk. ❤️❤️❤️

[@sasori2710]

many things I follow your way. thank you for teaching

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome my friend 😀

[@faxanidu3070]

Found your channel a few months ago. Literally has changed my life. Thank you Nick.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful my friend. Glad it has been helpful. Welcome to the channel 😊😊

[@ai172]

Ven. Nick, thank you, thank you, thank you! I want to let you know that watching this video has been my best start to 2022. I have always struggled with "balance" between the two worlds. Your warm words filled with hope, clarity and kindness is immensely encouraging. Words fail to convey how helpful this is to me! Sending you love and hugs with tears of gratitude.

[@denisedecastaneda1995]

✨💛✨Agree 100%

[@Momo969602]

Wonderful lesson! I am struggeling to balance my material and spiritual life and your message gave me some clarity. Blessings to you and all the best for your life

[@ChaiTogether]

Living in Thailand at age 26 was the best thing I’ve done for myself for life experience. ☕️🙏🏽🧡

[@nickkeomahavong01]

😀😀

[@johnmackenzie8559]

Perfect timing for this video. My balance went out of the window in 2021 and I have been quite concerned about it. Just started, in the past week, a few ways to restore balance.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Beautiful. Yes use this new momentum to get back on track. You got this John ☺️

[@annec7391]

Another beautiful, insightful, and personal video. Thank you Nick! My nine year old daughter and I have started taking a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on everything we are grateful for, plus one thing we can do better tomorrow. The results are truly eye-opening! Peace and love from Toronto to you and everyone!

[@Lisa-io9rn]

I have really struggled with balancing these to different lifes, so this video was really helpfull. I really feel like I have to fight (everyday), not depending on the material world to fulfill me. It can be so hard to convince yourself, that this is just your ego, that never will get satisfied. But then there are those beautiful moments, where your soul shines trough all the layers of betrayal, and you can be fully present and life seems so simply and authentic. Those moments, where you all of the sudden find meaning in a very lonely world. Balance will be my mantra for 2022. I'm sending everyone so much love. I hope that you find truth within yourself. I hope that you will remind yourself, that you are so worthy of good things. You are worthy of peace, love and abundance. You are worthy in this very moment.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Beautiful lisa. and yes balance is key :) it will take time to adjust.

[@camillaholst7321]

Your calm and helpful words are now an important part of my spiritual and mental routine, together with yoga, meditations and walks outside in nature. Thank you for all you share with us, Nick 🌸

[@TheMARITZITA15]

Extremely grateful for your will to guide us and teaching. Lots of blessings for you.

[@hansialocho8646]

Dear Nick, thank you for your wise words and your refreshing perspective onto life. The balance and structure you are talking about is exactly what I am trying to establish in my daily life. I found that meditation is a real blessing, but in the last weeks of my meditation practice a for my daily life unsustainable problem occured, which made it impossible for me to continue with my practice. Since I know this problem from various past attempts at developing a meditation routine, I no longer just want to drop meditation but try to find a way to follow through. I have talked to many people, but no one really understood what I am talking about, so perhaps you can help me understand a little more with what is going on. So here is my little meditation story: For the last six months I meditated for 10 minutes every morning after taking a cold shower. Therefore I sat down in a cross-legged position and counted my first 25 breaths and for the rest of the time I just observed the breath in my body. Due to being too goaloriented regarding meditation in the past, this time I was, just as you described, satisfied with the fact that I meditated every day, despite the outcome. During my mdeditation sessions I felt quite well and relaxed and open to the experience. But in the last weeks directly after my meditations there occured an ever stronger feeling of thightness in my chest, where I get the feeling that I can't breath in fully into my chest. As a consequence my nervous system ramps up and I feel that my inner energy is stuck at several points within my body. Other consequences are an lower overall energy level, an increase in compulsive behaviour (more eating) and a greater restraint when interacting with other people. After several hours the tension relieved and a euphoric feeling and relaxation occured. Since the intensity of these symptoms depends on my meditation time, I have tried to adapt my meditation time, but even after reducing each meditation to just 2 breaths (this feels almost like classical conditioning) I still felt these symptoms for most of my day, which made it impossible to arrange with my work as a teacher and life in general. Despite the negative effects of my meditation practice, I would love to continue, since there are many wonderful things that are cultivated by it and influence my life in a positive way, but right now I feel like I have to drop it again. I know this comment is quite long and maybe too much to ask, but perhaps you heard of something similar or you know a strategy on how to tackle this hurdle. Nevertheless, I want to say thank you very much for your well put and thought out videos. I recently came accross your channel and I like it very much! Thank you and have a wonderful 2022! Best wishes!

[@hughp00]

Thank you Nick, great job as usual. The guard rail metaphor is wonderful. I will add it to my kit in working with newcomers I sponsor, very helpful. As always, stay safe my friend!

[@catherinedufrene8411]

Thank you ven. Nick for your advices, sharings, teachings. You are an anchor for us, lay people. Regularly to listen to your spiritual teachings helps us to practice regularly, to set a routine. This video about material life vs spiritual life shows one the most difficult task for lay people. Again thank you and happy new year to you and everybody your followers! 🙏 Catherine from Switzerland

[@marthacervantes2041]

I do struggle with balancing material vs spiritual. Financial stability worries me these days. I need to continue to be simple. Thank you for your sharing 🙏🏻

[@PracticerOfMetta]

Thank you. May you be free from hostility, danger, mental, physical, and spiritual suffering. May all beings, seen and unseen, in all realms and planes of existence bless you. May all beings feel inner peace and happiness. Satu

[@GungaLaGunga]

Happy New Year Nick and everyone! I'm am so happy right now. I've come so far since last year when I was under so much anxiety I was in tears. Today, as the pandemic rages once again, I am at peace inside. I am going to hit the road this spring, and tour all 50 US states starting in Florida visiting recording studios, music stores, museums, and national parks and scenic places I've never had the time to visit. AND!!! I will be visiting any Buddhist monestaries I passby. I intend to continue to work on my meditation, and if they want, put me to work with chores!!! lol. I'd love that. Cheers and thank you again. 2022 will be a beautiful year. Peace.

[@Noself-h3e]

Br. Nick, Thank you so much for sharing small and practical ways to balance modern day and spiritual life. The message is clear, concise, and eloquently communicated. Staying grounded will certainly help reduce suffering during life’s ups and downs. With much gratitude

[@josephflock6404]

I respond in notions of love and hope to sleep in a sea of merit thank you for your words Nick I wait upon them every day

[@josephflock6404]

body side salad hyniana or Mahayana?

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Aww thank you so much Joseph. Happy new year to you 😊😊

[@josephflock6404]

@@nickkeomahavong01 I wanted to say Mahayana or Indiana we are brahmins from in Oregon and what do you think about this new Bitcoin currency thing going around I love to hear about that how does a Monica pay for anything

[@tlz8884]

Thank you for this video and making it easy for most folks to understand.

[@johnmackenzie8559]

I've just watched this video 4 times as I'm picking up more tips/ideas that I can integrate with each viewing. Thanks again. 🙏

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful John 😀😀 thank you

[@AndAbr21]

Thank you once again, Venerable Nick. A lovely insight into the monastic life and how one cannot just “escape” the material and thought processing life by entering a monastic life. We are built to think and to fight our thought processes is futile.

[@Jencredible731]

You have hit on so many things that I'm dealing with right now. Been dealing with it for years.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Hang in there my friend. Just slowly integrate the new tools you’re learning 😊😊

[@yvonnevandenherreweghe7031]

Wonderful lesson to start the New Year.Thank you Venerable Nick,I needed this.Blessings.

[@meenalshianand3591]

Your talks comforts.

[@janusztwardziak]

Thank you Nick for sharing your knowledge and experience. It's so easy to get out of balance in your day-to-day life. Your words reminded me about the need to ground yourself every day. Will give it a go. Thank you again! Happy New Year!

[@mamie6820]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful knowledge and experience. My spirit agrees with your teaching and is willing, but my body is weak and lacks discipline, commitment and consistency. Please provide information on a monastery for women.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

They have programs for women in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan :-)

[@mariagiordano2048]

Thank you 🙏 for sharing this beautiful simple message! You have a true gift 💕💕

[@denisedecastaneda1995]

Thank you so much Nick💎Life Empowering Gems received at the right time . Appreciate your kindness and caring teaching for all who want to better oneself. Such a reassurance that one can have grounding to gain strength and most importantly To Be Gentle and Kind To Oneself💛As I began to listen and continued to listen the weight on my shoulders began to vanish as I realized Hey I Got This🙂✨2022✨🎁received such a Joy to see your video and the landscape so Beautiful ✨

[@viaesta]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Tears of joy. Thank you so much.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu 😊😊 thank you so much

[@happyhippie2853]

My New Years resolution for more balance is to be consistent with exercise, yoga and meditation, 11 years of Vegan lifestyle, I can accomplish my goal..Thank you for knowledgeable advise, Namaste

[@sheilajoseph9953]

Thankyou Nick, your wise words are makes sense, even the simplest of tasks give us the biggest result and gratification. 💚

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You are so welcome. Thank you so much 😊

[@Spige0]

8:30 is my lockdown mood... Always. Constant feeling right here. Being bored by life. The exhaustion of it all. Journaling and meditation has helped. And you are so right in that sense. The practice and routine becomes wonderful. But, it is hard to stay motivated when you are struggling. Isolation and the loneliness is getting to me constantly. How do you fight that or get past it?

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Just know that in this moment, that is normal. Just honor that moment and allow it to pass. Also having a spiritual friend and community can be helpful also 😊

[@padmajaviswa9977]

As always....... a perfect topic at a perfect time.Thank you Ven Nick. Iam trying... will keep trying.

[@jucaja]

Happy New Year Nick! Thank you for this video. Your videos are always helpful and encouraging! I will try to be more grounded and not be so materialistic this year. Thank you so much!🙏

[@Harshini205]

Nick Thank you for this .This is such a selfless act what you are doing.You have touched my spirit and awakened me forever.I feel at peace when I hear your words.Your vedios keep me grounded make me realize from time to time my purpose of life.I am forever grateful to you for this.

[@ChaiTogether]

I love the realness!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Thank you so much 😊

[@balarevathykanthakuru7855]

Thank You Nick. This is a question lingering on my mind in recent years. I was looking for a structure to incorporate spiritual life amidst material life. This video would support me to accomplish that.

[@beataylor641]

I’ve allowed my meditation practice to slip recently and have noticed the negative impact this has had on me. I bought your book and did the spiritual detox on New Year’s Day to set a new intention. Thank you for your videos (which I shall get back in to watching) and the wisdom that you share 🙏🏼

[@mel6939]

Love this video for the start of the new year. My goal for this year is to continue to have and maintain balance. I have some tried and tested ‘gutter guards’ in place to assist me with this. The gutter guards are a wonderful idea and if you can find some of your own to implement it’s a big help in staying grounded and present. Thanks once again for your invaluable insights Ven. Nick. ☺️🙏🏻

[@schust4]

I just started following your videos a few days ago and just subscribed! I love listening to you speak. You have such a calming voice. And I love learning about how to adapt the practices you live by and place value in. I'm in the midst of a spiritual reckoning (so to speak). I am re-evaluating what I want out of my life as a person who is: living with chronic illness and disability; working in the medical field (a total of 24 years), having been extremely taxed over the past two years by the pandemic; and seeking greater balance, authenticity, self-awareness, minimalism, self-reflection, and connection to spirit. Thank you so much for sharing with us. I look forward to learning more from you!

[@milagroperez6053]

Good morning Nick I really appreciate your video to keep myself first like you said be gentle with me thank so much little by little is helping me to change have a blessing day 😊

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful my friend 😊😊

[@Nina_1000]

This is gold! Thank you for your insight Nick!

[@zgreg427]

Great message for the new year!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Thank you so much Greg 😊 happy new year.

[@applejackzo]

Wow. This is beautiful insight and advice.

[@bridgetjagusch8918]

Good to see you Ven. Nick.... Great topic for the new year.... To live in balance I think it's critical to a good life... Balance is key 😊 🙏🏻☮️🙏🏻

[@CosmicCassondra]

I love your calm energy and appreciate your practical tips. Thank you!

[@racheljones9786]

Brilliant tools.🙏 I am listening🙏 Thankyou🙏

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You're most welcome

[@AzulBlueQueen1944]

Listening to you speak brings out the best and worse in me. You touch my mind and my heart every time.

[@sowhatidontcare9642]

Thank you for your wisdom 🙏🙌✨😊

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome my friend ☺️☺️

[@ChaiTogether]

This was a great video Nick!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Thank you so much

[@eli4042]

Thank you a world! 🙏🙏🙏🌿🌱💚

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu. You’re welcome ☺️

[@csohrab]

15min meditation first in the morning is very important to me. Thx for your deep insights and clarification, Nick. Very appreciated! Stay healthy.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful 😌😌 definitely keep up your great practice.

[@deborahkimball-billups6405]

Oh thank you ven. Nick. You have helped me to get back on track ..........love wins ❤ always ❤ I am saving this video for reference.

[@eudaimonia2981]

Thank you for your words Nick. It’s always interesting to hear your insights and consider how we can adapt them to our own lives. Peace to you and those amongst you.

[@marianeal3164]

Very valuable guidance🙏thank you so much Venerable Nick. Many blessings🤗

[@pianoarmond]

Nice video. We hear you.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu 😌 thank you so much

[@TeriHargraveartist]

Wise as always, thank you! 💝

[@kumaranramarajj2833]

Happy New Year!

[@Ferovka]

Thank you so much for this great video and for sharing your experience and knowledge 🙏

[@nickkeomahavong01]

My pleasure. Thank you!

[@amycortez3289]

I struggle so hard to develop structure in my daily life. But, each day I begin anew.

[@lavenderpatchouli1343]

Thank you so much for this message! I struggle with balancing my spiritual “side” with my material “side”. They are not sides but all one, and I forget to apply that in my life often. In the morning I will meditate, do puja, and journal a bit, but go on to live the day out in a way that does not align with my spiritual self. It is hard.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Yeah it takes time and mindfulness. Just slowly integrate it gently 😊

[@TheUpcycledPunk]

As always, I give my gratitude to your wisdom. Thank you for sharing it with me❤️

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome Alta. It’s my pleasure. Thank you and happy new year 😊

[@TheUpcycledPunk]

@@nickkeomahavong01 Happy New Year ❤️

[@jimmypadma5232]

Thank you for sharing, Venerable Nick. Sadhu sadhu sadhu 🙏🙏🙏

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu 😊😊 thank you so much

[@jillharrison3800]

I love this so much that you advise the balance between material and spiritual life . Thank you so much for your peaceful , helpful advice 🙏🏻

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@rosw420]

I have just recently found your channel . Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Beautiful words from a beautiful soul. Much love to you and bless you.

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome and welcome to the channel my friend 😀

[@mettaways]

Wonderful message for 2022 on the harmonization of spirituality and materiality! Thank you 🙏 Ven Nick

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Sadhu sadhu 😊 thank you so much

[@novaste1238]

So profound, Nick. I can always feel when my spiritual life is desperate for my attention... the material life demands so much of us, it's easy to sideline our spiritual side and 'option' it instead of prioritize it. Thank you for this xx sending love

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome Erin. Thank you so much 😊

[@brigitteunterweger5711]

Thank you for all the help .

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Happy to help! thank you my friend :)

[@ginalibrizzi5204]

Thank you, Ven. Nick, for offering such a clear explanation and examples to implement. Your reminder to be kind to oneself really resonates too. Blessings and gratitude.

[@karekare72]

Thank you for sharing this 🙏 ❤ blessings and happy new year from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario Canada 💫

[@jtwalkes]

This came right on time . I know now I'm grounded, and my daily practice is working. Falling apart is not an option.

[@jules7730]

Greetings Nick I feel humble and blessed when I watch your channel 🙏 Please keep on uploading more videos Blessing to you & everyone there at the retreat 🙂

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Thank you so much Jules 😊

[@joshuatall8134]

Thank you so much for these videos!

[@nickkeomahavong01]

You’re welcome! It’s my pleasure 😊

[@carolutley6523]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom 🧘‍♂️

[@anbybartolomesantiago3777]

Just what I need. Thank you!

[@nicholasbishop6731]

Bless you Nick.

[@traceybevan3615]

Thankyou thankyou thankyou always blessings too you for 2022🙏💖🙌✨💫

[@lop1180]

Thank you so so much . I have been on this spiritual journey and also had established this Schedule for about a year now . It is so validating and brings my so much joy and gratitude to know my that I am on right path. And also thank you for the reminder to be gentle with myself and the goal is to surrender, go with the flow and enjoy just being here right now at this moment. Much love ❤️

[@lindajackson6959]

Balance and being grounded is my practice is my goal, practice. As always sadhu Ven Nick,for your teaching words.

[@charliesawyers-rees2650]

Excellent video! Over the holidays I fell out of my meditation routine but I'm motivated to get started again :)

[@nickkeomahavong01]

Wonderful Chloe. Yes get back on track again 😊

[@subhav527]

🙏 the more I hear it is healing me and I m putting efforts from what I learn 🙏

[@agnetastrindinger]

Thank you Thank you Thank you 🙏 Love from me to you 💓

[@doreenhall102]

Thank You! I watch you every day and learn so much.