Work/Life Balance: Are We Too Driven?
You’ve probably come across ‘driven’ people. What do I mean by ‘driven?’ These are individuals who are sometimes labeled workaholics or compulsives because they are consumed by their work, occupation or pursuits.
Some of us have been workaholics for years. We are extremely busy making a living that we actually forget to live. Nothing wrong with this, except anything taken to extremes is a dangerous scenario. Why? At day’s end, we keep finding ourselves sick and tired. Burnt out.
Our work in-trays may be empty in-trays, but our life in-trays are overflowing with things that have been waiting to be done – enjoy with family and loved ones at a nearby beach, listen to our favourite music, read a good book, respond to long overdue emails and snail mail from friends, and so forth. Yes, we’ve been driven long and hard.
The trouble with being too driven is that we are not in control, something else is. And because we let ourselves be driven for years in extremes, we often find it difficult to free ourselves from the grip of all kinds of conformities – those we have imposed on ourselves, our employers, society, or even by our loved ones and friends.
Eventually, when we let go, it often comes with very painful trade-offs.
Thoughts to reflect on:
Are you too driven? Are you fun and uplifting to be with? If you are too driven, does your lifestyle make you happy? If you are driven but stressed, do you really want to live a high-pressure existence? Or would you rather be less driven and more at peace with who you are?
