The Work-Life Balance Myth

You hear it all the time... how do I get more balance between work and life? Thousands of books, websites and social media posts have been dedicated to content that  leads us to believe this is a reasonable goal.

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I believe the struggle to find work-life balance will always be a struggle because it is a unicorn goal/expectation. A myth created to make us believe that happiness will be achieved when we finally strike the chord of balance between the two. 

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Why do I believe this is an unachievable myth?

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Work is a part of life. It isn't separate, and it shouldn't be treated as if it is. This is a very capitalist culture concept. The idea that our happiness is tied up in how much we "achieve" in our careers has lead to an epidemic of burnout, loneliness, numbing out and depression.

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The truth is what happens at work, happens in all areas of our lives. If you are overcommitted and trying to prove your worth at work, then you are most likely doing that exact same thing in all areas of your life. I know firsthand because I wore that shirt most of my adult life.

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What if we were to stop striving for balance between work and life? What if we started treating work as just one aspect of our human experience, and not the definition of it? What if, instead of scales, we created a symphony where every area of our life played a role in creating a beautiful work of art?

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What if we defined success by how authentically we showed up in all areas of our life? How much creativity and joy would we have? How much capacity for love and abundance could we experience?

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Close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath in for five seconds. Hold it for five seconds. Exhale for seven seconds. Keep repeating this pattern and start to step into what it feels like to be fully aligned in all areas of your life. To be living in your purpose. To love yourself (flaws and all) in a way that inspires others to do the same. What do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you feel?

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That, my friends, is the symphonic sound of who you are deep inside. Isn't it beautiful?

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As the conductor of your symphony and composer of your music... What notes can you create today to move towards feeling true harmony inside?

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