The choice between career and relationships is one of the most difficult that we must make in our lives. We all know how important it is to have a successful and fulfilling career, and yet, the right relationships can bring us joy, contentment, and security. Finding the perfect balance between these two concerns is an exercise more complex than many people realize.
Human beings crave stability. We want to look up in five years and say “I’ve done something”, meaning that we want to build a foundation with our lives. That might seem as if it’s pushing us towards prioritizing our career and pushing relationships away, but the reality is far more nuanced. Relationships give us an escape and respite from the worries that come with our working hours. Breaking away from the hustle and bustle and simply enjoy companionship creates invaluable perspective.
At the same time, when weighed up against our career, relationships often suffer from insecurity over which one comes first. Whether to choose the future that advances our career or the present moments spent with close friends or a partner—it can be hard to know what to do. This often gives the feeling of being torn in two directions and it’s not easy to find a solution that makes both sides feel satisfied.
The truth of this dilemma is that neither answer is wholly satisfactory. Focusing completely on your career at the expense of relationships is one possible outcome—but a hollow one. We all need downtime, conversations with other people, chances to just enjoy being inside the moment. Career advancement is no substitute for this. But neither is a concentrate on relationships. A career gives us a larger sense of purpose and belonging in the world—we find out who we are through setting goals and achieving them.
Finding that equilibrium between relationships and career is of course the ideal. However, it is not simple to achieve. There is a tendency to focus on one to the detriment of the other, something that should routinely be reviewed and monitored. It is best to focus on relationships taking a supportive role in helping with small decisions, such as pet projects related to a career, rather than making drastic decisions about which path to choose.
In addition, communication is key. Talk with friends, family, colleagues and mentors or anyone who can provide valuable insight and advice. Each person may have a different experience, which provides the opportunity to learn from and apply the best practices from other people.
There is no single answer for the question of whether you should prioritize your career or your relationships. It is a journey where the answers will shift and change depending on life’s events and changes. The key part of this progression is self-awareness. Take the time to be introspective and consider both sides of the equation. Ask yourself regularly if your current approach is serving both your career and relationships at the same time, and if not, act accordingly. With the right mindset, you can choose the path that is best for you and achieve your perfect balance.
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