<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>work life blend Archives - Braving Boundaries</title> <atom:link href="https://bravingboundaries.com/tag/work-life-blend/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://bravingboundaries.com/tag/work-life-blend/</link> <description>PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACHING & TRAINING</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 03:44:02 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-ZA</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <image> <url>https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Asset-1.svg</url> <title>work life blend Archives - Braving Boundaries</title> <link>https://bravingboundaries.com/tag/work-life-blend/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>6 ways to create a harmonious work environment</title> <link>https://bravingboundaries.com/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment/</link> <comments>https://bravingboundaries.com/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[friedaL2020]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:12:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Effective communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Team building]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Team communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Work life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Working environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[effective workplace]]></category> <category><![CDATA[enneagram]]></category> <category><![CDATA[enneagram training]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flexible working]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hybrid working]]></category> <category><![CDATA[life at work]]></category> <category><![CDATA[team dynamics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[team enneagram]]></category> <category><![CDATA[team work]]></category> <category><![CDATA[toxic teams]]></category> <category><![CDATA[toxic work environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[toxic workplace]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life blend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[working mom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[working parent]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bravingboundaries.com/?p=4944</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment/">6 ways to create a harmonious work environment</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular" > <div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_0"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_0 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h5><em>WRITTEN BY ALICIA KOCH, FOUNDER OF <a href="https://www.thelegalbelletrist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">THE LEGAL BELLETRIST</a></em></h5></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When we think of harmony, most of us imagine a type of Utopia where everyone we meet and interact with is peaceful, agreeable and lives in perfect bliss with the people and the environment around them. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s all seemingly very “kumbaya”, at least, that’s what the </span><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/harmony" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cambridge dictionary</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> intimates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For me though, harmony can often be found in diversity and balance. In recognising – within the diversity – how everything (and everyone) </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">can</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> fit together. Like a beautiful dance between partners. Not everyone is the same, but when moving together in unison a beautiful sway emerges. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps it’s the words of French mathematician, </span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Poincare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Henri Poincaré </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">that is more accurate (I’m married to a man who believes maths is the answer to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">every question</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – actuaries, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">what ya gonna do?</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">) – </span></p> <blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is the harmony of the diverse parts, their symmetry, their happy balance; in a word it is all that introduces order, all that gives unity, that permits us to see clearly and to comprehend at once both the ensemble and the details.”</span></p></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And it’s these words that ignite a thought. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps harmony in its real, basic form, is far more straight forward. Perhaps harmony is all about embracing what is different or diverse amongst us and learning to appreciate those differences anyway – learning the different moves, so you can </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">fox-trot</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> your way to a peaceful, happy place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After all, in real life, we are all different. We all want and look for different things in life. We all have differing ambitions and therefore will seek different stimuli to achieve a different result.</span></p> <p><b>Different. Diverse. Distinct. </b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And that’s not just in life. It’s at work too. We may have a “work persona” but we are still who we are. Deep down. And our differing needs will obviously bubble to the surface. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, it’s within this framework that I wonder – how does one create a harmonious work environment? Because let’s be frank about one thing. We spend (according to Andrew Naber, an alumni of </span><a href="https://www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories?id=79db7b34-630c-4f49-ad32-4ab9ea48e72b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gettysburg College</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) one third of our lives at work. That is, on average, 90 000 hours of work over a lifetime!</span></p> <p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shouldn’t we be looking at how to make our work lives better? More harmonious? Happier?</span></i></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I would say so – yes!</span></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h2><strong>Creating a harmonious working environment</strong></h2></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_0"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1440" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment-1.jpg" alt="6 ways to create a harmonious work environment" title="6 ways to create a harmonious work environment (1)" class="wp-image-4949" /></span> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It should come as no surprise that to have a harmonious working environment and to work within a cohesive team, takes work. It doesn’t just happen. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Again, let me repeat – we are all different. And our differences will – on occasion – cause tension. Causing our “harmonious working environment” to be out of whack. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And while I would love to say that you can all just snap back into position and continue happily as if nothing happened, that’s not always the case. It’s just not always that easy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But you can work on it. It takes a good action plan (as formal as that sounds) to ensure that everyone works together in a way that promotes a happy work-life. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can be done!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The question therefore – inevitably – is:</span><strong><span style="color: #c69229;"><i> what are the strategies that you can implement to encourage a harmonious work environment?</i></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After looking at several sources, most notably </span><a href="https://interaction-training.com/9-strategies-help-create-harmonious-team/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interaction Training</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the </span><a href="https://hr.un.org/page/create-harmonious-workplace"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UN HR Portal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.simplilearn.com/building-high-performing-teams-article"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simplilearn, </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">the following points can and should be practiced in order to encourage harmony both within teams, at work and (consequently) within your own life as well: </span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_1 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_1 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_1"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1.png" alt="" title="1" class="wp-image-1486" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_2 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Have mutual respect</i></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – practice awareness of each person within your team’s unique attributes, what they bring to the table, how they are different, what they are experts at. Recognise the part each person has to play. By doing so, a strong bond will naturally be created – because when someone feels recognised, when they feel appreciated and when they are respected, the opportunities to create, to brainstorm, to encourage, to support will naturally flow freely. This is important in order to be productive and to overcome challenges as one single organism, building shared values and a sense of integrity as you go.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_2 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_3 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_2"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2.png" alt="" title="2" class="wp-image-1487" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_4 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Practice inclusivity</i></strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">– in fact, make it your rule. This is where the differences in each of us shine through. Remember, it’s the value of our individual uniqueness that helps open a team up to new ways of doing things. And that’s important. You should also keep in mind that when encouraging new ways of doing things, how you act, your behavior and your beliefs will affect how you treat team members. Therefore, practice patience, kindness, open-mindedness, especially when someone’s beliefs are different to your own. Be proactive in asking for feedback to understand another person’s viewpoint. </span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_3 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_5 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_3"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/3.jpg" alt="" title="3" class="wp-image-1488" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_6 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Embrace diversity</i></strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">– “diversity” as a concept, often makes one think of cross-cultural differences first i.e. the differences in each of us because of our distinct cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Sure, these are important, but paying attention to diversity also means considering the differing perspectives that come from different genders, races, religions, sexual orientations and mental/physical difficulties and characteristics. You can embrace the diversity found within your team by using respectful language when referring to various groups and displaying supportive signs or posters in your office. Be prepared and willing to learn about your own personality type (most notably by incorporating the </span><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/enneagram/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enneagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – discussed below – which can become invaluable when embracing diversity), because this can help you become more self-aware, engaging more easily with team members. Be open to explore your own personal biases too as this is a critical step when learning about the root of possible prejudices. And it can teach you both how to fix that bias and how avoid it in the future.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_4 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_7 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_4"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/4.png" alt="" title="4" class="wp-image-1489" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_8 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Remember that your words and actions are important</i></strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">– choose your words carefully. Don’t speak without thinking how what you say will affect someone else. It also helps to stay mindful of what your body language demonstrates to others (remember the article on </span><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/effective-workplace-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Effective Workplace Communication</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – body language is key). Ask people about what they think and would do in each situation. Truly listen to your team members. </span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_5 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_9 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_5"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/5.png" alt="" title="5" class="wp-image-1490" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_10 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_8 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Manage the Self</i> </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">– when one talks about the “self” we often refer to our emotional intelligence—how well we can relate to others, even when the going gets tough. Especially when a work environment is not as harmonious as we would like it to be. This can take work on oneself too – for instance, try and empathize with and understand the perspectives of others, remain open to working on (and overcoming) your own mistakes or failures, be consistent with your interactions with others. Stop and take notice when you are not. Do what you say you will do – be true to your word. Hold yourself accountable. Ask your team members if you haven’t “walked the talk”. And then, do better! Managing the Self is an ongoing thing – you will always be working on you. </span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_6 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_11 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_6"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/6.jpg" alt="" title="6" class="wp-image-1491" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_12 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong><i>Encourage open communication</i></strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">– not speaking up is quite common in teams. You wouldn’t be alone if you were afraid to speak up, especially during meetings. Perhaps it’s the vulnerability that keeps us all quiet. A lot of us feel this way. So, encourage other team members to speak up, to voice their opinion and support them when they do! Listen to them and then applaud them for doing so. If you cheer someone else on, when it’s your turn, they will do the same for you. Encourage an environment of open communication. And creating this sort of team culture will motivate and encourage one another, helping creative innovative ideas thrive. That’s harmonious indeed.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_7"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_13 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_10 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may be thinking – wow that’s just as bad as “kumbaya”. I hear you. They are just pointers. You can take them – or leave them – the choice is yours. But the fact of the matter is, practicing the above pointers in your day-to-day life</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encourages harmony within a team. And within you. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And it’s not just the external factors to take into consideration. It’s also about knowing yourself. </span></p></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_11 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h2><strong>Know thyself, first!</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before you can really incorporate any of the above points into your life (and into your working environment), it’s crucial to gain a better understanding of who you are – deep down – first.</span></p> <p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Know yourself”</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the sum of all philosophical commandments, Socrates once observed. Aristotle in all his wisdom, echoed that sentiment by saying </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> How right they were!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because to encourage diversity and actively embrace new ways of doing things – creating a harmonious working environment – requires the embrace of different personality types, while at the same time, knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">who </span></i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">you</span></i></span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are – </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">as a member of that team. What is your personality type? How do you fit into a team? How can you work better within a team?</span></p></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_7"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1440" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment-2.jpg" alt="6 ways to create a harmonious work environment" title="6 ways to create a harmonious work environment (2)" class="wp-image-4950" /></span> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_12 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All pertinent questions in this journey to create harmony in your work (and personal) life. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And this is where the </span><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/enneagram/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enneagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can become invaluable to a diverse team all having diverse needs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As you may recall in the article – </span><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/investing-in-you-the-world-of-the-enneagram/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Investing in You – The World of the Enneagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – I set out just </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">how beneficial taking the Enneagram was</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in better understanding myself and the reasons why I do the things that I do. It has highlighted my core motivations and the impact they have on my personality, how I think, how I feel and how I act.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Enneagram has been invaluable in my own journey of self-discovery, self-development, relationship building, how I can better resolve conflict according to my own personality type and how I can work better in a team.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And I think for anyone looking to better understand team dynamics and looking to create a harmonious working environment, the following found on the Braving Boundaries </span><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/enneagram/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">website</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is highly enlightening – </span></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The power of the Enneagram lies in its subtle complexity, in its flexibility, and in its open-endedness, allowing it to take into account the myriad characteristics of human personality, how these traits blend in each person, and how they change depending on circumstances. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.06em;">The Enneagram is all about the WHY. It delves into our motivations and explains why we do the things we do. It offers profound insights into what makes us tick, such as the unconscious fears buried deep in our psyches that affect our everyday decisions.”</span></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The feedback session – as I said previously – was where I was able to gain a real understanding of my personality or archetype style. It’s how I got better acquainted with myself. It’s how I have been able to implement the changes suggested to me in the report. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And for </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">any team</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">any business</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, this would be worth its weight in gold. The perfect way to ensure a harmonious working environment, as well as effective, positive communication. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To find out more about the Enneagram Team Session and how you can both better understand team members within your oganisation whilst also discovering ways you can improve on your own communication skills, take a look at the </span><strong><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-with-me/">Braving Boundaries website </a></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><strong><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/contact-me/">get in touch</a></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with Frieda Levycky today. There are fantastic programmes for both individuals and teams.</span></p> <p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Truly invest in yourself and your team. Ensure you create a positive, harmonious working environment!</span></i></p></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_8"> <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/enneagram-inquiry/"><span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="810" height="450" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/End-of-blog-post-CTA-image-1.jpg" alt="Book a Team Enneagram Sessions with Frieda Levycky" title="End of blog post CTA image (1)" class="wp-image-4875" /></span></a> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_8"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_14 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space"><div class="et_pb_divider_internal"></div></div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_9 et_pb_gutters1"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column_15 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_9"> <span class="et_pb_image_wrap "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Alicia-Koch-The-Legal-Belletrist.jpg" alt="" title="Alicia Koch - The Legal Belletrist" class="wp-image-1704" /></span> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_4 et_pb_column_16 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_13 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner">About the writer, <strong><em>Alicia Koch, Founder of The Legal Belletrist.</em></strong></p> <p>Alicia, an admitted attorney with over 10 years PQE, and now a legal writer and researcher, has established The Legal Belletrist to assist companies (in different sectors) to write well-researched articles that speak to each company’s core business, enabling growth and commercialism.</p> <p>Click here to visit <a href="https://www.thelegalbelletrist.com/">The Legal Belletrist website</a>.</p> <p><strong>Email: <a href="mailto:alicia@thebelletrist.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alicia@thebelletrist.com</a> </strong></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment/">6 ways to create a harmonious work environment</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://bravingboundaries.com/6-ways-to-create-a-harmonious-work-environment/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>What is success?</title> <link>https://bravingboundaries.com/what-is-success/</link> <comments>https://bravingboundaries.com/what-is-success/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[friedaL2020]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2022 11:55:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Finding direction and purpose]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lessons Learned]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Self-care]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Self-reflection]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[a successful life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[achieve]]></category> <category><![CDATA[achievement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[achieving]]></category> <category><![CDATA[balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[boundaries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[choose wisely]]></category> <category><![CDATA[corporate life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[expectations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[happiness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[success]]></category> <category><![CDATA[successful]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life blend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[your choice]]></category> <category><![CDATA[your life]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bravingboundaries.com/?p=4480</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Success. How do you define it? By money, power and recognition? Or by free time, balance and happiness? It's your life. You decide.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/what-is-success/">What is success?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_1 et_section_regular" > <div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_10"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_17 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_14 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading"><em>WRITTEN BY ALICIA KOCH, FOUNDER OF <a href="https://www.thelegalbelletrist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THE LEGAL BELLETRIST</a></em></h5> <p></p> </p> <p>The word “success” is subjective.</p> <p></p> <p>Even if you wonder: “W<em>hat does success mean to me?”,</em> I can almost wager that your definition of success today, is quite different from what it was five years ago.</p> <p></p> <p>Because life changes. And with it, so do our expectations.</p> <p></p> <p>I take myself as an example.</p> <p></p> <p>Success to me, at least five years ago, meant driving a Mercedes-Benz. It meant wearing my Louboutin shoes. It meant being able to flash cash. It meant money. Money that I could do whatever I wanted with.</p> <p></p> <p>That money also came with a title: <em>Head of XYZ Department</em>. Sitting on the Board. It gave me such a thrill to know that I was “powerful”.</p> <p></p> <p>But the truth is, that version of “success”, failed to account for the relationship with my husband or my physical well-being and mental health.</p> <p></p> <p>I had become accustomed to <em>“keep calm and carry on”. </em>I felt like a duck on water – all serene and happy on the outside. Calm with everything seemingly working out just fine. That was the version of me that the world saw. And to everyone – myself included – I was “successful”.</p> <p></p> <p>But underneath the water my feet were paddling <em>ten-to-the-dozen</em>. I was over-stressed, not eating healthily, ignoring all the alarm bells going off in my head. I was at complete odds with what I had come to expect from myself and what I<em> wanted for myself</em>.</p> <p></p> <p>I was immensely unhappy, unhealthy and unsure of exactly what to do about it.</p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>Five years on and my definition of success has changed</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p>Looking back, so much as happened, both good and bad. But the most important thing is this – I know what real success for me is now. And it has nothing to do with money or title.</p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" class="wp-image-4484" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-3-1024x768.jpg" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p>Sure, having cash to flash is always a good thing BUT (and this is a very big but), if you are sacrificing all the fundamental things like happiness and health for it, the “price-tag” is not worth it.</p> <p></p> <p>And to me, there is no amount of money that is worth my sanity. Or my health. Not anymore anyway.</p> <p></p> <p>For me, five years on (and a lot of work on myself), success is –</p> <p></p> <p></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Loving what I do.</li> <li>Living a life that is very-well balanced – I go to the gym; I treat myself to massages and mani and pedi’s and I get to spend quality time with my family without the guilt of “not quite finishing my to-do list”. Don’t get me wrong – finishing what you commit to is important. But knowing when enough is enough for that day is even more so (something I have only recently learnt).</li> <li>Living my life, the way I want to. Forgetting about the expectations that my so-called high-powered position dictated.</li> <li>Going to bed at night not dreading tomorrow. Not worrying about next week. Because I get to say no to the things I don’t want to do and a resounding YES to all the things that I do.</li> <li>Choice and options.</li> <li>Simply being truly, deep-down in your gut, happy.</li> <li>Laughing aloud as often as I can without a care in the world.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>Success through the eyes of others</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p>Curious, I asked my husband what he believes success means. His answer, whilst always insightful, was a little surprising. Because it mirrored my own (I guess that’s why we are married).</p> <p></p> <p>His measure of success is broken down into easy-to-understand words (which will often change over time). He chose one word to measure <em>his </em>success. Now. That one word is HAPPINESS. <em>“If I fall asleep every night and my stomach hurts from laughing, then I know it was a successful day”</em>. The parameters that went into that day don’t matter. The only measurement that matters is laughter. Is happiness<em>. That is his success</em>.</p> <p></p> <p>It won’t be the same for everyone. That’s for sure.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Maybe success to you is the big house, the fancy car, the holiday in France, and your picture in the socials.</li> <li>Maybe it means being able to spend half the day with your kids.</li> <li>Maybe it means being able to take a run in the morning.</li> <li>Maybe it means going fishing with your dad in the afternoon.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>Because success is (again) subjective. Whatever that measure of <em>“I have made it”</em> (at least at that particular point in your life) means to you, will influence your definition of what being successful means.</p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" class="wp-image-4485" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-4-1024x768.jpg" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>What the “experts” say about success</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p>When we think of success and becoming <em>“whatever we want to become”,</em> some of us will think of the late <a href="https://www.ziglar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zig Ziglar</a>. Author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZG5THW?tag=s7621-20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Born to Win: Find Your Success Code</a>, Zig Ziglar championed and preached leading a balanced life, staying motivated and ultimately finding success.</p> <p></p> <p>Ziglar argues in Born to Win, that success is not defined by any one thing. It is motivated by and comprised of many different things.</p> <p></p> <p>Mirroring my own belief – <em>success is subjective</em>.</p> <p></p> <p>And in saying that, we can all agree that “success” (despite having a formal definition) is not a one-size-fits-all thing. It will always depend on the individual and the goals and achievements that individual <em>wants</em> for themselves.</p> <p></p> <p>Likewise, motivational speaker, <a href="https://www.tonyrobbins.com/stories/unleash-the-power/success-doesnt-have-to-be-a-secret/">Tony Robbins</a> <a href="text=Tony%20tells%20us%20that%20%E2%80%9CSuccess,as%20your%20purpose%20in%20life." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defines success</a> as <em>“doing what you want, when you want, where you want, with whom you want as much as you want. That’s a powerful purpose.”</em></p> <p></p> <p>And <a href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Gates</a> cautions that <em>“success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose”.</em></p> <p></p> <p>As you can see, “success” is kind of a mixed bag! But, in summary, defining success is up to you and it can be achieved by leading a balanced life, doing what you want, when you want and as often as you want. But with caution. Because everyone can make mistakes. Everyone can fail.</p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>How do you get to a “place of success”?</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p>Whilst there are many different definitions and understandings of what success <em>is </em>(and what it is not), during my research, I discovered the following five key steps which I believe are crucial in measuring or finding success –</p> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 15%;"> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" class="wp-image-1486" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1-1024x1024.png" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p><strong>Stay true to your core beliefs – </strong><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/paigearnoffenn/?sh=648d8e0b1bd6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paige Arnof-Fenn</a>, Founder & CEO, <a href="http://mavensandmoguls.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mavens & Moguls</a>, said in an article titled <a href="https://upjourney.com/what-is-success-answers-from-successful-people" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What Is Success? (Great Answers from 35 Successful People)</a>: <em>“Loyalty is one of my core values—loyalty to self and to others whom I respect. So, I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, relationships matter. Quality encounters matter. Honesty matters. Consistency matters. Authenticity and integrity matter. The experience and the journey matter. Focus on what matters to you and get rid of things that don’t. Taking the clutter out of your mind and your life frees up space for more of what you value”</em>.</p> <p></p> </div> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 15%;"> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" class="wp-image-1487" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-1024x1024.png" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p><strong>Do the work – </strong>a personal favourite of mine, <a href="https://www.eddieizzard.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eddie Izzard</a>, an English comedian, actor and activist in an article titled <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/comedian-eddie-izzards-five-top-tips-for-success/article15314106/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Comedian Eddie Izzard’s five top tips for success</a>, listed the Schwarzenegger school of image evolution as a mode to achieve success. On this particular subject, he said the following: <em>“Maybe some people have trouble thinking of me as a politician, which is why I have been focusing on more dramatic work in terms of my acting. Look at Arnold Schwarzenegger: At first, he was a body builder who wanted to be an actor and people weren’t so sure about that, and then he started doing action movies and he did Twins and he started to get better. When he said he wanted to be governor people weren’t so sure, but then he ended up being a pretty good businessman, which made it easier for the public to see him as a politician. He’s not my politics, but he’s a great example of how you can lay the groundwork for the direction you want to go in”.</em></p> <p></p> </div> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 15%;"> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/3.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-1488" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/3-1024x1024.png" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p><strong>Learn from mistakes so you don’t repeat them – </strong>Bill Gates in an article titled <a href="https://wealthygorilla.com/bill-gates-success-lessons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">17 Success Lessons from Bill Gates</a> set out that to achieve success you should not whine about failures, but learn from them instead: “<em>What is the point in blaming other people for your mistakes? Who are you trying to fool? Your mistakes are on you, they are not anyone else’s fault, so stop blaming other people just to try and rid your conscience of guilt. Mistakes are made to be learned from. You now know what or what not to do in the same situation when it rolls around for a second time and believe me, in most cases it will roll around again”.</em></p> <p></p> </div> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 15%;"> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/4.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" class="wp-image-1489" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/4-1024x1024.png" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p><strong>Prioritise self-care – </strong>Oprah Winfreystated in a commencement address at Smith College in 2017 that in order to achieve success and “find fulfilment” one needs to prioritise self-care: <em>“If you put yourself last and burn out, you won’t have anything left for others, let alone the goals you’re striving to achieve”.</em></p> <p></p> </div> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 15%;"> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/5.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" class="wp-image-1490" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/5-1024x1024.png" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p><strong>Success is about the journey, not the destination – </strong><a href="https://profiles.forbes.com/members/tech/profile/David-Gasparyan-President-Phonexa/c8c683a0-8b41-4278-bee7-23ae5775f6e9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Gasparyan</a> founder and President of <a href="https://phonexa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phonexa</a> believes it is a more long term thing: “<em>Obviously, we can define success in many ways: by having the love and support of your family, by setting trends in your industry, by building a great company. And I do believe it is important to set goals for your work and personal life and reaching those goals can be viewed as a success. But I believe that ultimately success is more about the journey than the destination. If I am able to wake up every day and put the maximum amount of energy and effort into goals that I believe in, that is success</em>.”</p> <p></p> </div> <p></p> </div> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-5.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-4486" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/what-is-success-article-5-1024x768.jpg" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>What success comes down to really</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p>Success comes down to defining what it means to you. Simple as that. Because “success” (any measure of it) is entirely dependent on you.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Stay true to your core beliefs.</li> <li>Do the work to understand what makes you tick.</li> <li>Learn from mistakes (because who wants to repeat them?).</li> <li>Prioritise self-care.</li> <li>Understand that it is a journey.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>For me, despite failures and misgivings. Despite difficulties. Despite everything to the contrary, this quote by author <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ralph Waldo Emerson</a> sums up what success means to me:</p> <p></p> <p>“<em>To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”</em></p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BB-Blog-images-What-is-success-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" class="wp-image-4497" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BB-Blog-images-What-is-success-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" /></a></figure> <p></p> <p></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em><strong>Getting to success</strong></em></h2> <p></p> <p></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Perhaps you follow my husband and choose one word that encapsulates what success – as an overall “thing” – means to you.</li> <li>Perhaps it is about drawing up a road map to get you to a place of achieving a goal.</li> <li>Perhaps it is understanding what your priorities are and then staying true to them (because otherwise what is the point?).</li> <li>Perhaps it involves simply putting yourself first and asking yourself – what do <em>you want</em>?</li> <li>Perhaps it is realising that this is a long-term objective, measuring success objectively as you go through life.</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>There are so many ways to achieve a version of success that fits you – right now – and there is no one way to get there either.</p> <p></p> <p>So, grab a cuppa and a notepad (a pen or pencil too) and jot down the things that matter to you the most, starting with your core values. Work through the things that you have in your life and the things that you want in your life. <em>Imagine the life you want to be living</em>. And then draw a road map on how to get there – realistically.</p> <p></p> <p>If you need help with this, contact <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-with-me/individual-coaching/">Braving Boundaries </a>and set up a call with Frieda Levycky who can take you through some practical and actionable steps to get you on a road where you can identify your goals and ultimately achieve success – as <em>defined by you</em>.</p> <p></p> <p>At this point, there may be one nagging thing that is bobbing around inside your head: “W<em>hat about my failures?</em> <em>Where do they fit in?”</em>. We have all failed at something (trust me). But <em><strong>failure doesn’t define you</strong></em>. In our next article we will tackle this small, yet seemingly menacing word – <em>failure</em>.</p> <p></p> <p>We look forward to going through this with you!</p> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide" style="background-color: #c69127; color: #c69127;" /> <p></p> <p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p> <p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:15%"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Alicia-Koch-The-Legal-Belletrist-1024x1024-1.jpg" alt=""/></figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:85%"> <p>About the writer, <strong><em>Alicia Koch, Founder of The Legal Belletrist.</em></strong></p> <p>Alicia, an admitted attorney with over 10 years PQE, and now a legal writer and researcher, has established The Legal Belletrist to assist companies (in different sectors) to write well-researched articles that speak to each company’s core business, enabling growth and commercialism. </p> <p>Click here to visit <a href="https://www.thelegalbelletrist.com/">The Legal Belletrist website</a>.</p> <p><strong>Email: <a href="mailto:alicia@thebelletrist.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alicia@thebelletrist.com</a> </strong></p> </div> </div> </p> <p> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/what-is-success/">What is success?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://bravingboundaries.com/what-is-success/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Work-Life Balance: Time Matters</title> <link>https://bravingboundaries.com/work-life-balance-time-matters/</link> <comments>https://bravingboundaries.com/work-life-balance-time-matters/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[@dmin2019]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2020 08:02:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Lawyer Life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Perfectionism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Self-care]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[avoid burnout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[basic balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[braving boundaries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[burnout]]></category> <category><![CDATA[choices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[down time]]></category> <category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category> <category><![CDATA[life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[live your life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lost time]]></category> <category><![CDATA[love your life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mental health awareness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mental health matters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[no time]]></category> <category><![CDATA[priorities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sacrifices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[take a break]]></category> <category><![CDATA[take back control]]></category> <category><![CDATA[time matters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life balance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work life blend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[work-life blend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[workaholic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[you matter]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bravingboundaries.com/workplace-ostracism-addressing-the-intangible-office-bully-copy/</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>When did the phrase: “I just don’t have time” last slip out of your mouth? And what did you sacrifice as a result?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-life-balance-time-matters/">Work-Life Balance: Time Matters</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Work-Life Balance: Time Matters </strong></h2> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>“We can make up for lost money, but we can’t make up for lost time.” – Simon Sinek</em></p> <p></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="color:#c69229" class="has-inline-color">Introduction:</span></h3> <p>When did the phrase: “<strong><em>I just don’t have time</em></strong>” last slip out of your mouth? And what did you sacrifice as a result?</p> <p>Was it:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>a call with your mum?</li><li>personal time with your partner?</li><li>dinner with your friends?</li><li>a yoga class?</li><li>the kids’ school play?</li><li>a visit to the doctor?</li><li>a date?</li></ul> <p>It’s a reality: as lawyers, our lives are busy. With billable hour targets set at up to 2,000 hours a year and lawyers regularly working 50 to 80-hour weeks, it is no surprise that time feels scarce. Let’s be honest though: yes, work is demanding, but there are successful lawyers, with the same number of hours in the day, who manage to have a happy and fulfilling life outside of the office. What secret to life do they have that you don’t?</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-text-color has-normal-font-size" style="color:#c69229"><strong>They make a choice.</strong></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Losing control of my time and my priorities</h3> <p>I want to tell you about one of the best pieces of advice I ever received.</p> <p>Back in December 2007, I was a junior associate working for one of the big international law firms. My transaction was completing on 31 December and I was in charge of finalising the documentation and making sure the bank transfers ran smoothly. Needless to say, they did not. An exchange rate fluctuation kicked out the calculations and money went into the wrong accounts! It was a complete catastrophe: my Partner was yelling at me from their holiday home blaming me for the mess, the poor lady in charge of the physical transfers quit and I was the only person in the office trying to manage the fall out.</p> <p>Around midday, mum called me to ask what time I’d be home for the New Year Celebrations. The conversation went something like this:</p> <pre class="wp-block-verse"><em>“Mum, there has been a disaster at work. I’m stressed and I just don’t have the time to talk.” “Ok love. Just let me know what time you will be at the station and we’ll come and collect you. Your grandmother is so excited to see you.” “Mum – You don’t understand. I’m the only person here. I can’t just leave. This is really important. I don’t even know if I can make it home for New Year.” “Oh, OK darling. Well, just keep us in the loop.”</em></pre> <p>I put down the phone and felt a pang of guilt soar through my veins. I could hear the disappointment in mum’s voice and I knew how upset my grandmother would be too. I really wanted to go home, but what could I do?!<strong><em> I didn’t have a choice</em></strong><em>.</em></p> <p>By 4pm, the banks were closed and it was evident that the matter was not going to get resolved that day. I’d missed my train home, but managed to catch the overnight bus. I would miss the evening celebrations, but at least I would be home for New Year’s Day and the long weekend.</p> <p>It was my step-father who picked me up from the bus depot. I burst into tears the minute I saw him and he gave me a big hug and listened as I recounted the story. Once I’d finished, he said:</p> <p><em>“I’m glad you made it home, but your mum and your grandmother were really disappointed you missed last night.”</em></p> <p>I could feel the annoyance growing inside me. <em>“Did you not hear what I just said? I didn’t choose to miss it. I was really busy. I didn’t have the time to make my train. I couldn’t just leave!”</em></p> <p>His response was short and simple and has remained with me ever since:</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote has-background is-style-solid-color quoteblockgrey" style="background-color:#686252"><blockquote class="has-text-color has-white-color"><p><strong>“Everyone has the same amount of time; it’s just how they choose to prioritise their time which differs.”</strong></p><cite>My step-father</cite></blockquote></figure> <p></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Your time matters: <span style="" class="has-inline-color"><strong style=""><font color="#c69229">You always have a choice</font></strong></span></h3> <p>It took me many years before I put my step-father’s advice into practice. Back then, I never really felt like I had a choice. How could I explain that dinner with my friends was more important than work? The reality was though that, back then, it wasn’t. Work was always the most important thing to me. Whether consciously or subconsciously, I chose work.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-text-color has-normal-font-size" style="color:#c69229"><strong><strong>I always chose work.</strong></strong></p> <p>It was only as I got older that I realised the negative impact that my constant choice was having on other areas of my life: poor health, insomnia, a confusing romantic life etc. Check out the article: <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/10-tips-for-lawyers-who-want-to-improve-their-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 tips for lawyers who want to improve their mental health</a> for some helpful tips to counter the negative impact of over working.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote has-background is-style-solid-color quoteblockgrey" style="background-color:#686252"><blockquote class="has-text-color has-very-light-gray-color"><p>I needed to shift my priorities if I was going to achieve a more balanced and meaningful life.</p></blockquote></figure> <p><em>So, next time you hear yourself saying: “I’m too busy” or “<em>I just don’t have the time</em>”, I invite you to consciously stop and ask yourself these three questions:</em></p> <p class="has-text-color" style="color:#c69229"><strong>“What am I prioritising here?”</strong></p> <p class="has-text-color" style="color:#c69229"><strong>“What am I sacrificing?”</strong></p> <p class="has-text-color" style="color:#c69229"><strong>“Is this the option I want to choose?”</strong></p> <p class="has-text-align-center">________________________________________________</p> <p>If you are looking to re-prioritise your time, but are struggling with implementing the change, then that’s where I come in. I know how hard it is to change habitual behaviour. Amongst, other things, it triggers feelings of guilt, disloyalty and selfishness and forces you out of your comfort zone. But once you take the initial steps, the benefits of nurturing other aspects of your life become evident.</p> <p><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-with-me/individual-coaching/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="833" class="wp-image-2667" style="width: 1500px;" src="https://bravingboundaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Time-for-a-change-blog-1.jpg" alt="Ready to get started - Work With Me"></a></p> <p><a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-with-me/individual-coaching/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com/work-life-balance-time-matters/">Work-Life Balance: Time Matters</a> appeared first on <a href="https://bravingboundaries.com">Braving Boundaries</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://bravingboundaries.com/work-life-balance-time-matters/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>