Our lives must have balance. Without it, we may fall or spin out of control.

I believe there are four major areas in life requiring attention to create balance: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. We need to know the actions we can take to improve in each area. I will discuss each of these in no particular order because we need balance, not a ranking system. The overarching idea is to enhance and attend to each of these areas in a balanced manner so that no area is ever neglected.

The first balance area is our mental state. This means the use of our mind, education, and mental discipline. I believe that when you quit learning, you quit growing. This doesn't mean you need to crunch math-ematical equations all day long, or even at all. It is simply creating a thirst for knowledge. Make a commitment to train your brain. Our brain works like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it grows or sharper it becomes. Leonardo Da Vinci would write upside down and backwards just to stimulate brain activity. To use a familiar saying, "The mind is a terrible thing to waste."

• Balance area two is the emotional region. Our emotional area includes stress, relationships, positive or negative connections in life and our reactions. Most of us live with a great deal of stress or too much negativity. How do we bring balance to this area? Start by clearing out anything that is negative, and this includes people.

  I heard of a very talented woman who told the negative people in her life that she no longer had time or energy for them. This may seem harsh, but bad company corrupts good people.

  Also, outdoor activities can allow you to leave some of your stress outside. Try to smile before each phone call or personal contact you make throughout a day to lift your spirits.

  Eat brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. These will all improve your emotional well-being.

• Our physical state is the third area to address. We must respect our physical temple; after all, you only get one. This means to exercise and improve nutrition.

  Through healthy decisions we can add years to our lives and quality to those years. You never know when you may be physically called upon to do something. There is great beauty waiting for you at the end of a long hike. You add happiness and health to a child's life when you play catch with him or her. Embrace life and don't fear that you are physically too far gone, because there is no such thing.

• Spiritual balance is the fourth area. It is my conviction that we must believe in something more powerful than ourselves to bring hope to our lives. If we don't, it's easy to be self-centered, which can take us out of balance.

  Make time to meditate and relax. Take a deep breath and know that life is great, and that there is an abundance of rewards in store for you.

  Balance is evident everywhere in life. Just look around and enjoy the natural beauty of balance.

  Try this simple activity to experience this for yourself: Go on a bike ride or walk. You will be improving your physical (exercise), emotional (stress relief), mental (take a friend and enjoy a great conversation) and spiritual (notice the natural beauty around you) states, all at once.

  "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance, you must keep moving." -- Albert Einstein

  Troy Fontana is the owner of Fontana Fitness in Sparks. Contact him at 331-6918 or getfit@fontanafitness.com