What is real work-life balance?
The real work-life balance is not directly connected with how many hours you work or don’t work. Let’s put forth a third dimension that supports stable well-being.
What do you think Sigmund Freud and Zen agree on?
There is an expression attributed to Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, in response to the inquiry: “What is necessary for a person to be happy? The famous response according to Erik Erikson was “to love and to work”.
If material wealth and security were enough for happiness, this would be a happier nation and the rate of suicide and addiction in the United States would not be where it is. Rather than material wealth and security, we as human beings need genuine purpose in order for our bright nature to break through the clouds that make our life less satisfying.
Using artificial intelligence for writing is something I do not believe I will ever do. Here is why:
I like my own expression, or “voice”. I have worked hard to know myself and to express the best, most helpful thoughts, insights, and feelings.
Why allow any other entity to interfere with that?
At times, we all face the experience of suffering and its more subtle version, feelings of dissatisfaction and insufficiency in life.
When life brings “good” or “bad” changes, which it always does, we can still love deeply and have clear purpose, and not be thrown. The results are profound and meaningful.
I recommend keeping in mind that inevitable future where we will once again all work together more actively. It will happen, whether that is months, years or decades in the future. If we maintain kindness and respect in this current era of conflict, it will allow that desirable future to appear more easily and more authentically, for everyone’s benefit.
The world is struggling to find peace and meaning. That has been going on since humanity appeared, and maybe even before that. Our natural mind is compassionate and wise, so go through each day aware that even the most confused and hurtful person is trying to make life better, and trying to make a difference in the world.
In Nonviolent Communication, empathy is the most important basis for good communication. In Zen a basic principle is impermanence, which indicates that there is no permanent self, leading to empathy. And effective psychotherapy is based on an authentic, empathic connection between the therapist and the client.
Our strong energy, our wonderful feelings of expansion and well-being in life, are often embedded in and hidden by what are felt as challenging or risky emotional situations.
The riches that we all have in us can get covered over. There is always positive energy going on even in the middle of a storm!
