Striking The Balance

Striking the balance is a key topic of the day for many. It's often noted that work-life balance is one of the key employment issues of the day. Typically, the imbalance leads to classic cases of burnout and undue stress.

Most of us have a desire to achieve the personal goals we set for ourselves. In past observations, I've noted that personal goals and desires seem to require a lot more work than before. It does appear that we seem to have created an increasingly competitive environment for our youth. As years progress, it seems to be more and more challenging. Is this attributable to the fact that I might be getting somewhat older and less driven? Maybe so. However, I don't recall the levels of stress in our youth being at these levels when I was that age.

It's not only our youth that are having trouble striking the balance. As a person who manages multiple groups of individuals and organizations, it is interesting to spot the warning signs. In these trying times, I am starting to detect the early warning signs in one of my proteges, and many close friends and associates. Now, stress is not necessarily a bad thing. When it turns bad, we have a different name for it -- distress. The challenge that I face is the fact that I don't like to see people put through stressful times. However, it is the stress that helps us overcome some of our challenges. Ultimately, it can help us achieve that long-sought balance.

Finding that right balance is something that is different for everyone. It has taken quite a while, but I've started to find what works best for me. I've been through the burnout and mid-life crisis around the same time, and they seem to have canceled each other out. That's one of the more creative ways to strike that balance...

See ya.