Balance

Balance
That's what we all need
What most seek, and some argue against
Not just work-life balance, I mean being and doing balance
Balance between making it happen and letting it happen

Some argue you must work hard and take action
To achieve anything in life, and they are right in a way
Action is needed, and hard work does have its place
If you wish to succeed in accomplishing things in this world
However, the sacrifice should never be your life
Your life quality
Your presence
Your happiness

Overworking leads to anxieties and stress
Which usually lead to poor decision-making
Quality work is achieved when you are present
When you love what you do
You can still work hard
But your hard work should come from a state of wanting to do the work
Not from having to do it because you have so much on your plate

Each action you perform should be conscious and present
If you have too much on your plate
You are always thinking about another task while performing the current one
Nothing is gonna be done to the best of your ability
It is far better to complete one job fully
Complete and perfectly than 100 unfinished and incomplete

In every moment we should ask ourselves
"What is really important?
What is really important today?
Is it necessary I rush out of the house to get to work?
Must I be in the office in my head, while my kids are talking to me
Unconsciously ignoring them completely?
What if I lost my loved ones today
Can I honestly say I was committed and present to those that really mattered to me?"

One of the most powerful principles in maintaining life perspective
Is to start the day picturing yourself at your own funeral
Ask yourself, "If I died today
Did I live what truly mattered every day?
Did I live how I wanted to live?
Or was I, like most, just obsessed with getting things done?
Can I do better, starting right now?"

Picturing yourself at your funeral is powerful
Because it helps you to understand that material things
And chasing the big dollars isn't really that important
You can't take money with you
You can't take fancy cars with you
And your loved ones will never care about what you did in the office
They will only care about who you were and how you made them feel

This doesn't mean you go out and quit your job
And live in a cave with your family
You can still thrive in business
And you can still make huge sums of money
The point here is to always be mindful
Of what is the most important in your life

There will always be things that need to get done
And always things that remain undone
They are not more important than your happiness now
They are not more important than this moment
They are not more important than those you love
Just ask anyone that has lost a loved one suddenly

Don't wait 'til it's too late to start living
Don't wait 'til it's too late to understand what's really important in your life
Don't wait 'til it's too late to be happy
Be lighthearted
Be joyful
Don't take life too seriously
It is meant to be enjoyed, no matter what you are doing

For many life has become a competition of being better
Or having more than the neighbors
Keeping up with the Joneses is how the majority of the western world lives
If we have less, materially speaking, we feel like less of a human
If we have more, our egos explode
This is not what life is about people
If you are chasing things you will never be happy, and always be chasing
Then you will die, and no one will care, because your soul died long ago

There is nothing wrong with money, or being extremely wealthy
Money is great when placed in the right hands
There are so many great people on earth, who do great things with their wealth
We are talking here about those who are obsessed with money
Obsessed with material things
And being better than their friends, and their neighbors
We are talking about those who measure one's success by one's possessions
If you think money is the most important thing on earth
Try counting your money while holding your breath

Money is not the answer
Living fully now is the answer
Love is the answer
Kindness is the answer
Compassion is the answer
Happiness is the answer