Work-Life Balance and the Alignment Principle

Most of us struggle with work-life balance, but the two groups who seem to have the most difficulty are those who hate their work too much and those who love their work too much.

In the case of those who hate their work, life seems like spending half your time chained on a galley ship and half your time on joyous shore leave. In the case of those who are consumed by work, real life is at the workplace, while time away from work is just some kind of enforced distraction.

You know both kinds, I’m sure.

For those that hate their work, all I can say is, “Get aligned! Find the place you were meant to be, serving those you were meant to serve!” In principle, it’s that simple. In practice, it takes some work, but the map is straightforward.

But for those who are so consumed by work that they have no other real life, the answer is much more complex. It’s clear that they are mostly in a place of Alignment, a place where they mostly get to use their Giftings, mostly to serve mostly those who need their Giftings. But something about it is sour, something is out of round.

What is happening is something like the high school orchestra – although most of the kids are playing well, it only takes one or two of the wind instruments to be off key by a sixteenth of a note to make the whole thing sound like a bag of cats. It doesn’t take much to produce discord.

So there are those, especially in the professions, who are very nearly in their Alignment zone, but not quite. Because they’re off key ever so little, the production is not harmonious and the client feedback is not euphonious, and there is a satisfaction gap.

Wherever there is a satisfaction gap, addictions rush in to fill it. This is why so many professionals are addicts – alcoholics, drug users, sex addicts, compulsive gamblers, yes, but mostly addicted to work. Just another hour, just another file! I’ll be home right after this page!

Believe me, I know the beast all too personally.

The sad thing about all of us who are professional work addicts is that the solution is generally in easy reach. Like the high school band, it’s only one or two of the instruments which are off, and only by a fraction of a note. But it’s that discord which makes the difference between joy and slavery.

When the professional’s work life is mostly a place of joy, there is no longer the “hole in the soul” that needs filling by substance or risky behaviour or more work. When truly contented in the workplace, you are able to enjoy all of life and share it with those you love. Time with family, time with friends, becomes a time of re-energizing, a time for the subconscious to work its wonders, a time to reflect joyously on the privilege of being exactly where one should be.

So the question for each of us is simply, “Is work good for life, and is life good for work?” If not, one of them is out of Alignment, and I’m willing to bet it’s work. It’s almost always in that order.

If you think it would help, I’d love to chat.