The Problem of Versus
Many people think that work/life balance is all about what appears on either side of the vs. in any given scenario. For example:
- Then vs. Now
- Work vs. Life
- Passion vs. Profession
Or better yet:
- Doing what I have to do vs. Doing what I want to do
- Making money vs. Having fun
- Playing it safe vs. Living your dreams
Of course, all of the above matchups are limiting, and even unfair. But that’s the point. Neither work nor life always have to come down to a 1 vs. 2 choice. It doesn’t have to be Either vs. Or. Believe it or not, it can be This AND That. Work AND Life. Passion AND Profession.
And maybe that’s the center around which work/life balance rotates. It’s finding that sweet spot where what we want to do and what we have to do collide. It’s finding the gooey center of happiness in the middle of the Tootie Roll Pop we call life.
So, don’t merely try to justify your 8-hour workday. Find an 8-hour workday that makes you happy, proud, and fulfilled. Don’t buy into the modern mantra that it can only be one or the other. Don’t defer life – live a whole one.
To get a better glimpse into what I mean by that, spend time this weekend with The Monk and the Riddle. This quick read is a quasi-fictional account of a Web-based entrepreneur who thinks he needs to strike it rich with a business plan he’s not very crazy about in order to live the life he’s always wanted. After several conversations with a Silicon Valley veteran, he finally realizes that work is about more than a paycheck, and that value is measured in more places than on a balance sheet.
An excerpt:
Work hard, work passionately, but apply your most precious asset – time – to what is most meaningful to you. What are you willing to do for the rest of your life? does not mean, literally, what will you do for the rest of your life? That question would be absurd, given the inevitability of change. No, what the question really asks is, if your life were to end suddenly and unexpectedly tomorrow, would you be able to say you’ve been doing what you truly care about today? What would you be willing to do for the rest of your life? What would it take to do it right now?
Whether you read a book this weekend, or whether you finally break free from the versus mentality, understand that balancing between work and life might be as simple as re-understanding the meaning of the word life.
