a conversation that weaves stories and strategies with a soulful question and quote
a story
[spoiler alert: I'm not a fan of terms like work-life balance or blending work and life. I've seen the outcomes]
Leaders have lives.
Work is a component of that life. Think pie chart.
The work component will fluctuate during different life cycles, possibly seasons or specific months based on your work.
Clients sometimes show up with symptoms that if given opportunity to be curious and aren't dismissed, can emerge valuable data.
Symptoms like overwhelmed, stressed out, unfocused, or feeling a bit lost. Often the response to those symptoms is to work harder and push through [because it will pass, it will let up, it will get better after _____, right?]
When we dig into the data, we typically find one of two things:
1] The component of work has expanded significantly and become the “new normal." Not for a season [think accountants during tax season], but every day, all year long. The other components of life [relationships, personal health, hobbies, faith, and the mundane stuff like grocery shopping, laundry, home maintenance etc.] are “add ons” that we simply don't feel we have the capacity for but don't want to admit it and wrestle with guilt.
2] Or possibly there's been a life event or situation [think child struggling, aging parent, health diagnosis, etc.] that has required more from us timewise, emotionally, mentally, or financially. And we haven't reassessed what resources are necessary, available to deal with, to be present in the situation. So, we function beyond capacity for too long. We try harder, keep trying to do it all, like we get more hours in the day than others.
The result is the same. Exhaustion, guilt, and overwhelm.
If you can resonate with this, here's a question to begin identifying what you want your life to look, feel and function like AND THEN some strategic thinking to begin a realignment with less regret.
a soulful question
Do you want your work to align with your life or your life to align to your work?
a strategy
Determine your alignment focus from the above question. Most will say life and yet…
Now look at your calendar.
Honestly assess if your calendar reflects what you value, what you want more of in your life.
Don't panic! If there is some misalignment, it's an opportunity to explore and emerge strategies that are meaningful to you, leverage resource including your natural strengths. This exploring doesn't mean we compromise productivity at work or connection to those you love. It means we emerge different strategies that guide you in making strategic decisions, so you live [and lead] with less regret.
a quote
“The belief that we can do it all, have it all, all at the same time doesn't give space for life to happen. We are then in danger of seeing the important things, even what we value, as inconveniences. We're at risk of missing out on the meaningful moments that happen in the mundane.”
#themundanematters
I'm in this with you, continually realigning to reclaim what matters most,
Sandy
If this storyline resonates reach out for a no cost conversation to see if even one coaching session can be a catalyst to re-align where you are giving energy, time and ultimately your life.
It's good to share good stuff!
If you know someone who might appreciate a resilience boost every once in a while, or simply would be encouraged by this chat's focus, pass it on!
Sandy is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach & Organizational Consultant with over twenty-five years experience of creating conversations and designing resilient environments that transform how we live and lead from the inside out.
