Work-Life balance – A New Perspective
Do we humans work for a living?
Do we view ‘work’ as an exchange of value for a ‘life’?
This very often-heard phrase – “Work-Life balance” drives sensitive emotions in us. When we deconstruct the word, it is evident that we love to divide life into two parts – ‘Work’ and ‘Life’. We strive to strike a balance between the two!
This fragmented approach is based on the following assumptions:
· I work to earn the life of my dreams, it is a compulsion
· Work is a necessary evil, I do it because it pays
· Work 5 days to live the two days of weekend, which is basically living from weekend to weekend
· Time that is other than work-time is recreation
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. – Steve Jobs
A large majority of workforce today treats work as a means to life. This perception is brought about by a variety of factors driven by markets, business practices and trends, corporate governance and HR related practices and more importantly one’s own perception.
1. The new perspective
If we spend between 8 to 12 hours a day or more doing what we call as ‘Work’ it is a significant part of ‘Life’. When a third of our time or more is invested in some endeavor, it has to be something we are in love with.
It is critically important to fall in love with what we call as work. We know of examples of passion in the most dreadful jobs and the other extreme of unhappiness in the best of positions as well.
Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching. – Satchel Paige
What are the secrets to experiencing ‘work’ as an integral part of ‘life’?
The first step for an individual however, is complete acceptance and ownership of his/her present work context. This opens up questions and possibilities for moving towards work that is as exciting as life itself.
2. Driven by dreams
There is scientific evidence to the fact that, as humans grow up to be adults their ability to dream diminishes. In my view the first step to creating great ‘work-life’ is revisiting our dreams. There is something that excites us; there is something that gets us out of bed every single day with joy!
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. – Walt Disney
Life without dreams is like a ship without a sail. Dreams fuel enthusiasm and provide direction to life. Once we shift our perspective from ‘working to make a living’ to ‘living with dreams and purpose’ new and exciting opportunities open-up.
3. Life of Purpose
Our ‘work-life’ and ‘dreams’ should also encompass greater good of other humans. A purpose driven life however simple it may appear to be is truly a meaningful life.
In order to find our true ‘life-purpose’ we are required to find the section of society or groups of people we care about and wish to empower.
The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. – Albert Schweitzer
It is natural for everyone to approach work seeking ‘what’s in it for me?’ In addition to this if we ask ourselves this question – “how can I make a difference to those people?” We would have found our ‘life-purpose’. In other words a self-less attitude in however small a proportion is essential for ‘work-life’ to be meaningful.
4. Sense of Abundance
It is heartening to see today’s work domain infested with a sense of scarcity. Time, money, good resources and good clientele everything seems to be in short supply.
To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance. – The Buddha
While our environment seems to be portraying scarcity, do we have the ability to spot abundance, which is truly present in nature?
A sense of abundance is another important ingredient of rewarding ‘work-life’. It is that inside-out approach, the opposite of ‘seeing is believing’.
Our ability to believe first and see later is this sense of abundance, which should be driven by gratitude.
5. Experience of freedom
This is the tricky paradox of ‘work-life’. How to experience true freedom in the midst of work pressure and chaos?
Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. – Mahatma Gandhi
To remind ourselves about our right to action alone and not the fruits of the action as powerfully stated in ‘The Bhagavad Gita’, liberates us from the bondage of the action.
Absence of attachment, absolute commitment, intention to achieve the objective and an unwavering trust in the ‘divine grace’ are essential to experience freedom in the thick of – responsibility, uncertainty and pressures prevalent at work.
6. Contribution
Our little daily actions that we call ‘work’ impact people’s lives and the planet at large. When we lack this broader view and understanding work becomes a burden. We earn the right to live a great life by only great contribution.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment. – Tony Robbins
A life driven by purpose is a life of contribution. When we see our work in this light it becomes truly fulfilling.
7. Fulfilment
To conclude
The divide between ‘work’ and ‘life’ and the compulsive need to balance both is brought about by absence of fulfilment.
It is the holistic approach to our actions in day-to-day life that does not take a fragmented view of life.
In today’s fast paced, technology driven, capitalistic and chaotic world it is natural to slip into fragmenting time as ‘work’ and ‘life’. Work that is seen as a means to life and not as a contribution does not yield meaningful results.
Starting with ‘dream and purpose’, working with a sense of ‘abundance and freedom’ and making meaningful ‘contribution’ – bring about fulfilment. If any of these ingredients is missing ‘work-life’ becomes fragmented.
Article By: Sathish Desai, Principal Architect & Designer at CREO, Bengaluru
Disclaimer:
The content in this article is from the author’s personal experience and his learning from various resources. It is intended to inspire and help people. Author is open to feedback and comments. This may be shared for the benefit of students & professional communities.
