When we think about good balance, we often picture someone standing on one leg, perfectly still. And if we find that difficult, it’s tempting to try harder: tighten our muscles, hold our breath and concentrate on not moving.

But even when we’re standing quietly on two feet, we’re moving. Small shifts of weight and adjustments throughout ourselves are part of how we stay upright. The movement isn’t a failure to balance. It’s part of the process.

Holding ourselves rigid might help us feel more secure for a moment, but it can also make it harder to respond. We need to be able to shift our weight to take a step, turn to look behind us, or reach for something without feeling that the whole arrangement might fall apart.

So perhaps a useful question is: “How easily can I move from here?”

Can I go in more than one direction? Am I free to breathe? Could I take a step without having to prepare first?