Work-Life Abundance?

Jennie Wong has a great article that looks at work-life balance from a different angle.  I’ve had many previous posts regarding this topic including Work-Life Balance Advice, Work-Life Balance Choices, and We Work Too Much.  But Ms. Wong’s article hits on a point I’ve long feared may be true.  To many people, work-life balance has become polite code for working less.  And so work becomes the bad guy. 

Ms. Wong contends that for many people, work is far more than just a paycheck or a means to an end.  Work feeds both the bank account and the soul.  If something’s wrong with work, just fix the work.  All valid points.  Agree with everything she said.  However, for just as many people, work IS just a paycheck.  Work IS the bad guy. 

 

For anyone in the latter category, you still need to own your situation.  No pity party please.  We’ve all made many choices to get to the current point in our lives.  Make different choices if you want to get to a new place.  If you choose to stay where you are in a place you don’t like, well that’s your choice.  And it’s your own fault.  Work is still the bad guy and you’ve done nothing to change that. 

 

Ms. Wong’s 2nd point is just as interesting.  She contends needing work-life balance is really saying you want more of something, not less of something (i.e. more fun, more relaxation).  Stop thinking of work-life balance and start thinking of work-life abundance.  Great points.  Many times people think eliminating something you don’t like (i.e. work) will magically give you more of something you like (i.e. fun).  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.  You need to take action for whatever you want in life.