Read more
A
workaholic is someone who has no identity beyond their work. Life is
about so much more than what you do. It is about the relationships you
develop and nurture. It is about social impact in your community. It is
about the growth and learning you experience. It is about living
passionately.
We are creative by our very nature, it's in our
genes. Applied intelligence equals creativity. Intelligence takes on
many forms. So this creates a new question:
Where is your definition of a workaholic more likely? One living in passion or one living in isolation and fear?
The
True Entrepreneur is one that I witness their values, passion, and
whole way of being aligned with what they do. In this way, the
entrepreneur is just being. The business, the vocation, the passion, the
purpose, the values, interests, etc. are all a part of who the
individual is.
Externally, I don't think anyone could casually
observe a difference between a workaholic and this entrepreneur.
However, the individual knows. Deep down inside, the answer is known and
typically the individual will turn away from acknowledging that truth
and rationalize sticking to their tried and true behavior. The tried and
true is comfortable. To admit the truth requires change and change is
uncomfortable.
Many people welcome change in their external
environment and consider themselves capable and open to change.
Unfortunately, for most the relationship to the inner self is one of
fear; there's a whole can of worms that gets opened when we start doing
the inner work. Knowing this, on a gut level, our subconscious quickly
reverts to the tried and true. It's hard work to change.
The
good news though, is that many entrepreneurs have the ability to see
what is happening around them. This ability is what makes entrepreneurs
visionary go-getters. However, this does not exempt entrepreneurs from
getting caught-up in their business to the detriment of a well-balanced
life.
A well-balanced life is more powerful than the hard work
that you put into a business. A well-balanced life feeds the brain, the
spirit, the emotions, and the body. In creating the space for
relationship, recreation, and rest, the benefits experienced will offer
stronger focus, greater creativity (beneficial for problem-solving and
decision-making), greater self-esteem, and mental/emotional/physical
health. Knowing this, choices are made.
If incorporating a
well-balanced life would allow you to achieve the same amount of output
in 60 hours versus the 80 hours of perseverance, which would you choose?
The other thing entrepreneurs have difficulty with is learning
when to say, "No." and when to say, "That's enough." Always after a new
conquest, a new experience, a new peak, and new challenges, an
entrepreneur can get all that energy too caught up in the business
arena. This will lead to the very thing you fear. Instead, split this
energy to have a well-balanced life. Achievement will be far richer in
the relationship arena and the personal growth arena.
The
experience of Life can be incredibly rich, just don't get so caught up
in riches that you neglect your Whole Life.In so many areas of life we
must always be vigilent of our mental, emotional and physical health.
Getting involved or caught up in too much of one thing can create a
multitude of problems in life. Out at a networking event recently, I had
missed dinner but in true form to the crowd and socializing I purchased
my first of many beers. I hadn't intended to stay as late as I did and
nor had I intended to carry-on afterwards at a friend's place. A little
excess can be a good thing once in a blue moon.
Having just come
back to reality and work the very next day, I'm able to recognize the
hazards of letting myself get all caught up in excess. Another
networking event tomorrow evening that will be followed by a photo
exhibit at another location. It can get a little crazy if I let it get
out of hand. Now this is just my experience and I'm sure there are
others who are not concerned one way or the other. There are many who
demonstrate excellent self-control in many situations. Their weakness
may lie elsewhere. I believe we all have a weak spot in our lives.
At
the networking event I learned of a dear friend who is over-working
himself. The company is insisting he cut back to no more than 2 hours
each day of the weekend. I was suprised and not surprised. This guy is
very passionate and committed to excellence. The tragedy is that his
truest artist isn't allowed out to play anymore. I've seen some of his
work. He's an incredible artist and that talent is lying dormant crying
for release. Our spirit yearns to demonstrate our beauty to the world.
This includes the good work he's doing for his company but not at the
expense of the rest of your soul.
Initially, we can completely
lose sight of dangers of excess. In the beginning it's just an exception
as it's a busy week. One week stretches to two or three and before you
know it, you're whole life revolves around work. Or, this week there
happened to be more events crammed together, an unusual occurrence. I'm
not going to let it get out of hand. But in the past, somewhere along
the way, I have lost my sight.I no longer kept my eye on the ball, on
the real reason I'm here. How do we express our fullest self?
Everything
in moderation. Everything in balance. Trial and error is a good
teacher, learning to juggle, to have patience and trust that the things
that need to get done will get done, and ability to remember that you
have the power to say no. My focus is not on the danger as much as it is
on the choice. To recognize when I'm in situations that could backfire.
I remind myself to keep my eye on the ball; why am I doing what I'm
doing? I want to check-in with my soul and be sure that I haven't lost
sight of my truest passion in life; not just the distractions.
Finally,
I don't need to run from the challenge. I am a physical being. Desire
exists to experience life, to experience the textures and tastes, and to
learn from a spiritual place. I can dance among the snakes. I can walk
on water; the emotional stormy seas of life. The beautiful thing is, so
can you! It doesn't come easy initially. It takes careful observation of
oneself, the thoughts and emotions, deciphering their significance, and
maintaining a perspective of observer of the experiencer; not from the
experiencer perspective. This is a bit of challenge and a fun one at
that. To see yourself as something more, you begin to access more.
Excessiveness
leads to breakdowns in many areas of life. From health-related personal
issues to watching the people that matter most in our life leaving us.
This article reflects on the dangers and strategies that enable greater
awareness leading to better choices. It's not about abstinence; it's
about balance.A well-balanced life is more powerful than the hard work
that you put into a business. A well-balanced life feeds the brain, the
spirit, the emotions, and the body.
The experience of Life can be incredibly rich, just don't get so caught up in riches that you neglect your Whole Life.
0 مشاهدة