Balancing Love, Work & Life

We've all been there before. You know the thing that caused you to spin around in circles confused or overwhelmed with joy. It's that thing called LOVE. It can either be a great memory or an unbearable heartbreak. Sometimes it can be a complete disappointment because what you envisioned love being and feeling like is NOT what you experienced. It can become even more of a challenge when you include work responsibilities and life tribulations into the equation.

Attempting to figure out how to balance love, work, and life can be somewhat impossible at times, but it's definitely doable. The most important factors you must remember when trying to achieve an equal balance between the three are; Time Management, Compromise and Self-Happiness.

-TIME MANAGEMENT-

No relationship works without sacrifice. When you do take time for one another, be there completely. Put phones and computers away and be present in the moment. An hour of totally focusing on your partner can keep a relationship strong for the long hall. A key component of making the right sacrifices is to evaluate your priorities. Prioritizing means recognizing where you need to focus most of your attention and where you can let things go a little. If things are stable with your job, it might be worthwhile to slow down and spend some time with your significant other or family members. If you’re worried about maintaining a good reputation at work, and your love life is in a good place, pour a little extra into your job. No matter how busy you are at work, you’ll always have some personal time to share with those you love. Look for opportunities to spend time together and don't take it for granted. Become familiar with the importance of quality time. Recognize how to manage your time in order to achieve that perfect amount of balance you need to endeavor your goals.

-COMPROMISE-

This word will either make u smirk, laugh, or shrug. Nonetheless it is essential to a happy home, work environment, and overall life! It is pertinent to understand the difference between good and bad compromises.

A "good compromise" is changing your habits and self in such a way that you grow more into your most full, authentic, best self.

A "bad compromise" is changing your habits and self in such a way that you wind up becoming less of your full, authentic, thriving self.

To compromise is to give up the pursuit of a better prospect in order not to risk an existing situation, even if it is perceived to be somewhat worse than the prospect that is relinquished. Although the prospect might be better and even considered feasible, the person decides not to pursue it. Compromises are in my opinion inevitable. Especially when it comes to your life trials or your career. In most cases, you have to bite the bullet and just deal with it to a certain extent.

In relationships, compromises should come from both parties it should never be one sided. That's the definition of a sacrifice which is a topic for another day :) Before you ask for your partner to give up something, be prepared to offer something to the table yourself. That shows balance, a sense of fairness and a willing to compromise yourself - not just ask for compromise. Knowing your compatibility as a couple could assist you with making the best compromises. Test out your love meter by taking the Compatibility Quiz.

-SELF HAPPINESS-

The thought of being with someone and loving them forever always send a warm feeling to your spine until their baggage becomes your baggage. When times become difficult most would hide and run to escape the burden of dealing with someone else's problems. Those who outlast the weaklings are usually able to handle it all and know that bad times come and go. However, those who are strong and willing also come to realize how extremely easy it is to lose yourself in a relationship. It can be difficult to be in a relationship if you don't have a great deal of self-love. Self-love means now that I also love my relationship, I don't depend on it, and it doesn't take away my individuality. It enhances me!

You have to learn to love yourself BEFORE you enter into a relationship. Those who believe that coming into a partnership means that now this person is obligated to make me happy usually don't last very long. Only you can make yourself happy. Without that self-happiness, no one on earth can magically place happiness into your heart. A person can bring you as much joy and smiles to your life as humanly possible, but true happiness comes from within. Learning self-love is an ongoing process. It's not a switch you can just flick on. Even couples who have an abundance amount of longevity must maintain a certain level of self-happiness in order to stand the test of time. You are the master of your own happiness. See in yourself what your partner sees in you.

Working through your baggage from the past can also help you feel lighter and more present and makes it easier to choose happiness. Yet working through past pain is an ongoing process, and while it's good to do it, it doesn't have to hold you back from choosing happiness. It doesn't have to be, ''I'll be happy once I overcome my baggage."

You can be happy right now!

One of my favorite pieces of relationship advice comes from my All-Time Favorite Actor Will Smith. Check out what the love veterans' thought of self happiness below: