Beyond The Paycheck
The Five Pillars Of Life Series|04 Career & Business
Photo by Tani Olorunyomi
As the summer sun starts to dip, and that September chill finds its way back into our lives — we often experience a shift; returning slowly but surely from months of rest and repose, an impetus emerges naturally: focusing more clearly on igniting our working spirits. This is the time for us to start pulling up our socks again and getting set into all those demands that come part and parcel with jobs and businesses. As we transition back into the rhythm of fall, it feels like the perfect moment to delve into our next essential pillar: Career & Business. I can sense a shift taking place, both in the air and in our focus.— just as the weather is starting to change, so do our mindsets begin reverting to those goals and ambitions that keep us MOVING. Today, I want to investigate how this pillar can influence more than just our career success and serve as a foundation for fulfillment in all areas of life—if it’s well-balanced with the other pillars.
Diving into the Pillar of Career and Business
Over the past few months, I’ve been diving deep into each of my five pillars, which form the core of my coaching and aromatic signature readings. Today, we’re going to explore the pillar of Career and Business. When discussing our professional lives, it’s easy to think about the daily grind or the pursuit of financial stability, but there’s so much more to it. In my framework, the Career and Business pillar is about how our work aligns with our passions and values, and how it contributes to our overall sense of purpose and fulfillment. This pillar is not just about what we do to earn a living, but how our careers influence and integrate with our well-being, relationships, prosperity, and spirituality. We’ll discuss the importance of balance, the pitfalls of passion-driven burnout, and the value of contentment in our professional lives. Let’s explore how this pillar shapes who we are and how we can cultivate a career or business that enhances, rather than detracts from, the other aspects of our lives.
A Journey Beyond Financial Success
Just think what it would be like to start your day with joy, not despair. If it is work that excites our insides and gets us alive in those weird ways, then we are doing exactly what suits who WE are. This alignment reminds us to fully showcase what makes our own hearts sing; hence activating a feeling of success and value that echoes in all aspects of life.
In my opinion, it’s similar to hitting a jackpot not just financially but also in terms of health, relations (with others and self), and overall well-being. Our careers and businesses don’t just depend on these pillars; they actively support and reinforce other aspects of life, creating a chain reaction that helps maintain balance and overall satisfaction.
The Passion Paradox: When Love for Work Leads to Burnout
The perfect job is always one that jives with the interests of a lot of people. What a wonderful thing to wake up every day fired by passion and purpose…the bedrock of motivation! However, there exists a paradox in this: the same passion that drives us can also lead to burnout. It's easy to mix work with life when you love what you do. You may be staying in until the wee hours of the morning, you might not be taking breaks — or at least nothing consistent, managing more than you can take on because it does not equate to “work,” as we know it.
That excitement is great for when you are beginning, but in the long run it can also have its dark side. The scarcity of creating has left numerous exhausted and depleted with nothing more to give on the very thing that drives their passion. Viktor Frankl once said, “What is to give light must endure burning.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the challenge of sustaining passion over time. While our work may ignite our inner fire, it also has the potential to consume us if we don’t manage it wisely.
People who get so excited about building a career or business — regardless of what it is exactly that they are building — only to look up years later wondering how in the heck they can possibly keep pace with everything their creation demands.
And so, how does one strike a balance? It’s setting limits and understanding that rest is actually very important. Passion does not give anyone the excuse to hand over everything all of the time so stop trying. Breaks, delegation of work, and setting boundaries around your work life are critical to preventing burnout from turning what began as a passion into drudgery.
So, how do we avoid falling into this trap? One question to consider is: What opening and closing rituals can you create for your day that will help you transition in and out of work mode, ensuring you preserve your energy and passion over the long term?
Reframing Success: Pursuing Happiness Beyond the Checklist
In the pursuit of a fulfilling career or business, it’s easy to become focused on ticking off achievements, meeting goals, and constantly pushing forward. But true success isn’t just about completing tasks or hitting milestones—it’s about finding a deeper sense of fulfillment that resonates with your values and enhances your overall quality of life.
Instead of viewing success as a finish line to cross, consider it a journey that evolves with you. What if success wasn’t just about what you accomplish at work, but how your career enriches your life outside of it? This shift in perspective can be liberating, allowing you to appreciate your progress without the constant pressure to do more.
It’s important to remember that fulfillment comes in many forms. For some, it’s the satisfaction of making a difference in their field; for others, it’s the ability to leave work at the office and enjoy quality time with loved ones. Success can be about the moments of creativity, the relationships you build, or the balance you create between work and play.
By redefining success on your terms, you open up the possibility for a more holistic and satisfying career experience. It’s not about how much you do, but how what you do supports the life you want to lead. Whether you're chasing passion or happiness, this way of working enables you to create work that both feels good—supporting your wellness and relationships—and is aligned with the life purpose side of things.
Whatever career path or business journey you are on, take the time to think about what success is for you. Is it supposed to be about accomplishing more, or is the secret in building a life that feels balanced and fulfilling? So much of the way that we experience success in real life has to do with understanding that it is about quality and not quantity–and by having a more meaningful presence in every aspect of your being–you can finally find some satisfaction.
Balancing Career and Life: A Reflective Approach
When it comes to your career or business, think about where it sits in the larger fabric of life. Whether you have a burning passion for your work or are happy to sit in a job that pays the bills, it is vital to find balance that still supports our well-being, relationships, prosperity and spirituality.
Reflection Questions:
How does your work relate to who you are (values and passions)?
In what ways does your career support your life outside of work?
What things can you do to keep your passion from becoming a burden?
Closing Thoughts
Remember your career or business is just one aspect of your life, when approached with mindfulness and intention, it can be a powerful force that enhances every other pillar of your existence.
Looking to add more creative and enjoyable ways to enhance different aspects of your well-being? Click here to download my free interactive guide.