Heres a common refrain heard in workplaces across the country: Im swamped, I just cant catch a break! Is it really almost the end of the year? Sleep is for the weak! Were so caught up in achieving, in climbing the professional ladder, in garnering validation from peers and superiors, that we find ourselves perpetually pushing forward.
I remember my own whirlwind days vividly. I was a Vice President at a leading media corporation in New York City, my daily commute clocking in at two grueling hours each way. My life was a relentless cycle of work and little else. Yet, even as I ticked off achievements and received the accolades I thought I wanted, happiness eluded me.
Deep down, I felt profoundly miserable. Then, life threw wrenching tragedies my way not once, but twice. In 1998, my younger sister suddenly died from a brain aneurysm. The grief was unimaginable.
Not long after, in 2008, my brother tragically passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest. These events shattered my world and forced me to confront my lifestyle. Both times, I had coped by diving back into work, burying my grief in busyness and baked goods ??yes, thousands of cookies. But after my brothers death, I decided something had to change.
I took a radical step back from my relentless pursuit of the next big thing. I focused on healing, on finding joy in the everyday. I learned to work efficiently so that I could leave the office on time. I gave up the late nights.
I even stopped my marathon baking sessions. I sought the help of a life coach, which turned out to be transformative. We uncovered what truly mattered to me ??beauty, passion, laughter. It turned out, these were not tied to my job title or how late I stayed at the office.
Gradually, I rebuilt my life around these discoveries. I started taking dance classes, traveling, and allowing myself to enjoy lifes simple pleasures, like buying fresh flowers for my desk every week. These changes didnt just add joy to my life; they brought a profound sense of fulfillment that my corporate achievements never had. Life is indeed far too short to be constantly busy.
I learned this through great personal loss, but it doesnt have to take tragedy for you to make a change. Heres how you can start: Reflect deeply on how you spend your time and ask yourself why. Look beyond the immediate answers and dig into what youre truly working towards. Is it a life you genuinely desire?
Dare to envision a life with boundless time. What would you do? How would those days feel? What makes them joyful?
Use tools like visualization and journaling to make these dreams vivid and tangible. Begin integrating elements of your ideal day into your current routine. Could you start leaving work earlier a few days a week? Take up an evening hobby?
Politely decline extra responsibilities that dont align with your personal goals? After facing down my darkest days, I realized that our deepest sorrows can lead us to the most enlightened paths. However, you dont need to wait for or experience tragedy to discover a more meaningful way to live. You have the power to choose a richer, more connected life right now.
Why wait? Make your moments count.
