“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
Do you struggle finding the “right” work-life balance? Do you ever feel ambivalent toward how and where you spend your time? Do you often find yourself thinking about the other 100 things you “should” be doing other than what you are right now?
If you often wrestle with the concept of “work-life balance,” then allow us the opportunity to burst the bubble: It’s a cultural myth. It’s overrated. It’s afundamentally flawed, unachievable concept. The notion of work-life balancesuggests that we should have this perfect balance between our personal and professional responsibilities at any given time.
This couldn’t be further from the truth for the overwhelming majority of folks, and here’s the even more critical part: Life is seasonal. In other words, there may be seasons when the scales tip in favor of our professional responsibilities and
It’s not all or nothing; it’s just not necessarily 50-50. And what works for one person, may not work for you. And what works for you today, may not work for you down the road. And the seasons of life can also extend to your spirituality, relationships, health, fitness and other aspects of life.
Now, that’s not to say that you should ever neglect these key areas. After all, it’s not about how much time. It’s about being intentional with your time. As Hillary DePiano said, “We all get the same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.”
And we all get the same 24 hours. Are you living intentionally with yours? Are you present when you’re with your family? Are you zeroed in on the opportunity at hand? Or, are you distracted by everything else you could be doing?
As Paul wrote in the book of Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” Said differently, wherever you are, be there. Or, as Mark Batterson put it in his book Play the Man, “Do it like your life depends on it.” Whether it’s physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally, leave it all on the court.
Intentional living, according to John Maxwell, is key to “choosing a life that matters,” and like many of you have experienced, fatherhood refines, humbles, and promotes growth—for everyone. Quit aiming for someone else’s idea of balance, and focus your target on living intentionally.