Who told us that work is separate from life and needs to be balanced?

As a Business & Branding Strategist, I see the drive, the vision, the work that goes into creating a meaningful endeavor. My clients who work in various creative endeavors will often grade themselves on how well they’re balancing. Sometimes they will use the thrive for balance as the reason why a particular thing didn’t get accomplished. 

If I were just that much more balanced, then I would be ______ <– Fill in that blank.

Whenever the word “balance” comes up, I see an old scale as my grandmother had, with two scale pans. Work on one side, life on the other.

If work weighs more than life, then you are a workaholic. If life weighs more than work, then you don’t care about the work, and you’re basically a freeloader.

Somewhere along the line, we were told that work does not integrate into life, it’s on the other side of the scale, it’s separate. Then we’re told that in order to be good, we have to balance work and life and keep them apart from one another. But also, together enough to keep the peace.

Who here has been divorced? ME!!! You too??? This work-life balance stuff sounds like a custody battle, and no matter what you do, you’ll never truly win anything, nobody does. 

Well, here’s what I want to tell you: lies, lies, LIES!!!

There is no such thing as work-life balance. There is you, living your life, integrating all of the moving pieces.

We all manage at least some of these different aspects of life: Family, Work, Finances, Health, Children, Elderly Parents, Marriage, Fitness, Car Problems… you name it, and we’re probably managing it.

The myth that somehow we’re all buying into is that if you do an excellent job at balancing all of the things then, you too can achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. You’ll find that elusive, gilded thing called balance. In that sense, balance becomes a destination, a goal, an ending, or even a state of being.

Have you ever been on a trip? Say you are heading to Wichita. When you get there, there will be a sign, welcoming you to Wichita. You have arrived.

Balance is not like Wichita. There is not GPS coordinate, no finish line, no arrival. 

What if, you are doing nothing wrong when you feel out of balance. Here is what I want you to think about: I’d love for us to practice intentional, values-based living. 

Let’s start here: What is important to you in your life?

Sometimes, especially in struggle and conflict or even drive and success, what becomes the focus is the thing itself. 

We forget the value of the thing, and we blast through our day straight into burnout.

Burnout is why we are being encouraged to strive for balance. I propose that instead of making balance another thing to achieve, let’s make value-based living the conversation.

So, what in your life demands you and why? Do you have deadlines to meet at work? Do you also have to pick up your preschooler from school? Do you have an elderly parent? Do you have friends? DO YOU…..

YES. YES. YES.

What is at the center of your life? You are. You and everything you are created to be. Good and whole, and equipped, strong and skilled.

It may seem selfish to put “You” at the center of everything, you know why? Because you’re not at the center of everything, but you are at the center of your life. “Who you be and how you be” makes an impact on the world. You need to know you and choose wisely.

Let’s do thing together. 

And if you get stuck, you’re not alone. I  am here with you. Let’s walk through your wheel and discover your values, schedule your complimentary intro session with me.