Sometimes to lose balance for love is part of living… it sounds like a contradiction, right? But that’s the whole point. It’s about how calculated risks for what matters actually create a richer, more complete life.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote flips the script on what “balance” really means. It argues that perfect, rigid equilibrium isn’t the goal; sometimes, the most balanced life is one that allows for passionate, beautiful imbalances.
Explanation
Look, we get sold this idea that a balanced life is this perfectly calibrated scale, right? Everything in its place, no drama, no mess. But that’s a static, almost dead kind of balance. What Gilbert is getting at—and I’ve seen this play out so many times with clients and in my own life—is that dynamic balance is the real deal.
Think of it like surfing. You’re constantly shifting your weight, leaning into waves, sometimes even falling off. That “falling” isn’t a failure of balance; it’s a necessary part of the process of riding the wave. Leaning into love, into a big project, into a new chapter—it requires that same kind of temporary, calculated imbalance. You’re not losing balance for just anything; you’re losing it for love, for something that gives your life depth and meaning. And that act, paradoxically, makes your overall life more balanced, more whole, more… alive.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Love (89) |
| Topics | balance (95), devotion (4), risk (54) |
| Literary Style | concise (408), poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | reflective (382), warm (182) |
| Overall Quote Score | 83 (302) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. It came out of her personal journey of self-discovery after a painful divorce, and it perfectly captures the philosophy she lands on. You sometimes see it floating around unattributed or misattributed to other self-help figures, but its true home is in that book, born from her specific, raw experience.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Elizabeth Gilbert (39) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (39) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Elizabeth Gilbert writes with clarity and heart about creativity, love, and self-discovery. After starting in magazines like GQ and The New York Times Magazine, she published Pilgrims, then broke out with Eat Pray Love, followed by Committed, The Signature of All Things, Big Magic, and City of Girls. Her 2009 TED Talk on creativity went viral and continues to inspire makers worldwide. She splits time between writing, speaking, and mentoring creative communities. For a full view of her work, see the
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Sometimes to lose balance for love is part of living a balanced life |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2006; ISBN: 978-0-670-03471-0; Last edition: Penguin Books, 2010; Number of pages: 334. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 75, Indonesia section, Approximate page 293 from 2010 edition |