I’m hearing a great amount of buzz around that age-old goal of achieving life balance between your career and all other parts of your life including your health, personal emotional state and relationships with those around you (spouse, friends, family, etc)
Like anything else, this is not as simple as it initially looks.
Most of us assume there is a universal principle of life balance that outlines the ground rules for how much time and energy we spend on career or business, family, our own well being…
Is that really true?
No – I’ve seen happy entrepreneurs who are so far away from the expected "life balance" norm it isn’t funny. But they are happy, healthy and enjoy life tremendously.
On the other side, I’ve seen many 9-5 workers who get to spend tremendous amounts of time with their families but who are exceptionally unhappy and quite frankly, would be doing their family a favor if they were around a lot less!
YOUR DEFINITION OF LIFE BALANCE IS NOT MINE
I was raised with a professional family that tried very hard to maximize their time and energy with family – making sure they were home for most family dinners and weekends, ensuring that they gave us their un-divided attention when they were around us (I have a younger brother).
My grandparents were staunch family people who expected the family to be together every night and weekend. Both came from farming backgrounds where the family unit is extremely important as is hard work.
So, it’s my inclination to look at someone who puts their career ahead of their spouse, health or kids to be wrong, or out of life balance.
But…its that correct?
Not necessarily.
As a professional and entrepreneur I have come across many high achievers who live and breath their work – often seemingly at the expense of their families, and some were extremely happy holding strong bonds to their families.
Others were miserable, unhealthy, and were frankly headed to an early grave if they don’t soon change their ways.
Therein lies the answer to achieving life balance…
LIFE BALANCE AS A SOCIAL CONCEPT IS MEANINGLESS – IT’S WHAT MATTERS TO YOU!
You must look inward and understand what life balance means to you. Forget society – those around you, what does it mean to you?
Do you feel it is better that your kids see you each night at supper OR is it better that they see someone who loves what they do so much that they miss the odd dinner?
I’ve had to come to grips with this many times in my life when my own life balance changes – where I have committed to a project or business building 110% one month at the expense of other aspects in my life. Sometimes I walked away happy, sometimes not.
For me, I’m willing to put career first under the following conditions:
1. There is an underlying purpose that will benefit my family and those around me
2. I’m a happier person that can give better quality time to my family than if I was in a different place
3. The situation is temporary and do get back to a position where my family is #1 in an acceptable time period – you will need to determine what is acceptable to you
4. I’m doing it for the right reasons – not for greed, status or prestige, but line with an inner purpose or mission that you are living for
What I have learned over time is that so long as you understand your own feelings on achieving life balance AND live in unity with those beliefs and feelings, those around you will benefit. Once you stray from living in concert with your beliefs, that’s when you need to re-examine your life balance.
Ultimately though it is YOU that must decide what life balance means in YOUR life. Trying to live up to someone else’s ideals will not produce the happiness and satisfaction we so desire out of life balance.
Wondering what your inner beliefs, purpose or reason for living really are – these are fundamental questions on your path to achieving greatness in your life – then check out Attracting Greatness, our newest book available over at "Attracting Greatness" website.
Jeff
