A job can get the best of you if you aren't careful while leaving you with nothing more than crumbs for a personality outside of work such as: emotional highs and lows, addictions, tiredness, and health issues. Think of how much time people spend in front of the television or some other electronic device watching people with a variety of issues as a form of relaxation. Look at those individuals in your family who spent decades working to save money so that they can retire to a life of food and drug addictions, medical problems, and more. There must be some degree of balance between work and play. One must strategize, not only at work, but at home too! How much time is really being dedicated to partner, children, relatives, and friends? Where does one go or what does one do to experience true peace of mind outside of the workplace? Who or what is driving the worker to act in ways either on or off the job that if anyone at work knew what was really going on, this person would suggest an immediate dismissal?
At times, we lose focus on the people, places and things that truly matter--the help that got us where we are in our lives in the first place. You didn't get where you are on your own. Someone or a group did things to help make your path easier. For example, a relative may have watched your children, a partner could have saved you time and money so you wouldn't miss a day of work or have to go in late, a business might have given you some benefits to help you keep your job, a spiritual individual prayed for you, a group created information to help you become a success and you took the information and ran with it, and the list goes on. Sometimes it may seem that you got to where you are in this life all by yourself, because you stand on the front lines of battle daily, but the truth is you had a team assist you and you still have people around you that help whether you personally know them or not. We are never to bite the hands that feed us spiritually or otherwise--no matter what the title, ethnicity, gender, income level, etc. What goes around sincerely does come back around--sooner or later!
Remind yourself that your money is nothing more than a tool that helps you do the things you want, but by no means was it ever meant to replace your morals/ethics, mentors, family, friends, and more. As workplace woes increase, so does problems at home for many people. Sometimes it is the opposite of the two. Think about how many hours you work with strangers (that's right strangers, you don't really know these people no matter how many lunches they bring you) as compared to how much you talk to those who you have known for years. Some reading this, shouldn't wonder why your partner feels jilted and angered that you care more about appeasing "strangers" than you do your marital relationship. Sit down, be attentive, and talk awhile with your loved one before it's too late. What is on his or her mind? What might the future hold for your relationship? A boss can quiz you on your tasks and you might even be able to predict the future on some things, but when it comes to a personal relationship, you're stumped. "Now what was it that my partner wanted me to do again? Oh well..." says the often busy boss.
Consider how much effort you put into maintaining your reputation on the work front as compared to the amount of time you put in keeping the peace at home. Are you often critical at home? Do you give your family a hard time while you encourage your employees and even say things like, "Please" and "Thank you."? Funny, how nice people act when dollars and cents are involved.
Also, ask yourself, "Could my attitude, work hours, job responsibilities, employee relationships, and financial concerns be negatively impacting other areas of my life? If so, what should I be doing to rectify these issues at home?" You might be blaming others for your stresses, when in fact, you have long been warned about your own behavior both on and off the job.
Take a day off, orchestrate a change or two on the homefront and elsewhere, be mindful of how you treat those you love, and apologize to anyone you may have offended.
Nicholl McGuire author, writer and this blog's creator. If you are planning to relocate, get tips here.
