I love pushing hard to succeed in my career, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. But as I grow, I'm learning that balance makes me even more effective. Do you live to work, or work so that you may live? This is my journey to actually live — and enjoy — life.
The Lesson
Many who think they have balance might be surprised by what their closest friends or family would say. I once was that person. Today I strive for equilibrium among the things that matter most. James Patterson put it beautifully in Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas:
Imagine life as a game in which you juggle five balls — work, family, health, friends, and integrity. Work is a rubber ball: drop it and it bounces back. The others are glass. Drop one and it may be scratched or shattered. Once you learn that, you begin to find balance.
— James Patterson, Suzanne's Diary for NicholasThe Five Balls
My family means the world to me, yet like many professionals I've neglected them at times — traveling for work, glued to screens, half-present when together. I now commit to putting family first, and to reminding others that it must come first.
"The family — that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor wish to." — Dodie Smith
It took weight gain, rising blood pressure, and constant fatigue to wake me up. I took a sabbatical, went vegan, slept more, and felt renewed. Even small, consistent steps protect your health before a crisis strikes.
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease." — Gautama Siddhartha
Parents can teach you how to find friends, but not how to be one. True friendship accepts all of you — the good and the bad. A small gesture or message can mean everything. Invest time and energy into friendships; you'll never regret it.
Reputation is built on trust, and I always choose integrity over convenience. Trust is like an eraser — it gets smaller with every mistake.
"If everyone were clothed with integrity, the other virtues would be nearly useless." — Molière
Work is the rubber ball — drop it and it bounces back. It matters, and I'm proud of my career. But it should never come at the cost of the four glass balls that don't bounce.
The Practice
Work success matters, but not at the cost of relationships, health, or integrity. I understand the lesson of the five balls, and I now aim to live it every day.
Seek balance. Find balance. Live balanced.