Just wanted to share this quote which I think is particularly relevant in our current economic state:
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
But the other four Balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that, and strive for it.” – Brian Dyson, former CEO Coca-Cola
Let’s take the family ball, for example; while two parents are putting in long hours at work, that family ball is starting to get harder to grip. You’re not spending quality time (or any time) with your children and they are beginning to exhibit behavioral problems at school, grades are dropping and teachers can’t control them.
Additionally, you’re not spending enough time with your spouse, creating tension within your marriage. One spouse says they are giving as much as they can to the family. The other doesn’t budge because they feel they are the primary breadwinner. This circumstance, day after day, is starting to erode your relationships with your spouse and your children. The burden of your family life starts to trickle into your professional life. Co-workers find it difficult to work with you and your job performance and productivity are going down hill. You bring that work frustration home with you, which add even more stress to your family life. As this cycle continues over time, it could result in a divorce and a loss of free will to see your children frequently.
As you can see, dropping one ball can create a multitude of problems in other areas of your life. Not only are you spending less time with your children, you are now living on a one-person income as a single parent, trying to maintain a lifestyle that a dual income once supported. This is why you need to seek balance today!
How do you get balance? How much time should you put into balancing your life? Each circumstance is unique, and as you make an effort to give attention to all aspects of your life, you will know how much time you’ll need to allot. It’s your life and your family; it takes time to get an idea of what will make everyone happy, content and fulfilled. You just want to get started today because the quicker you start, the faster you will figure out your personal balance equation.
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