Finding it Difficult to Balance Work, Relationships, and Spirituality.

[HMD]

I recently got into a long-distance relationship, and I am working on getting my counseling career started while also working as a Freelance writer. 

I have to do freelance work to get money for the bills, but I also have to work on building a career as a Dietitian because that's what I really love doing. But the money I am making right now is not enough compared to the bills, so I have been putting in time to increase my income. The career also requires plenty of time and money to get the right certifications and knowledge (I already have a degree in Dietetics). 

On top of this, I am also in a long-term relationship so I have to invest time and money on that too. And finally, there is spirituality, without which I just can't function properly. 

My question here is, what would you guys recommend I do? How do I balance all of these? Are there any books that I can read that would help me in the balancing process? 

[Sandhu]

 سب چھو ڑو یار، بس کرئیر پر فوکس کرو۔

 

پیٹ نا پئیاں روٹیاں

تے سبھے گلاں کھوٹیاں

Edited September 25, 2024 by Sandhu

[Whitney Edwards]

Just now, Sandhu said:

 سب چھو ڑو یار، بس کرئیر پر فوکس کرو۔

Foreign language is not allowed on the forum. So delete it. Just saving you from getting warnings lol.. 

[Sandhu]

@Buck Edwards Thank you, but just waiting for his reply😁

[HMD]

@Sandhu Wasn't expecting that lol. But well said my man, well said. 

[Princess Arabia]

For me, it's not "finally, there is Spirituality". Spirituality is all there is and everything else is a by product. I'm not saying I'm obsessed with it, because I'm not. I incorporate it into most things I do. Most of it is just knowledge and information that isn't really relevant to who you truly are anyway because the Self already is that. All that needs to be done is to remember who you truly are and to abide in that place. The rest are just practices to help you to do that. 

I can be walking down the street and hold that space. Washing the dishes, talking to a friend. When I feel myself getting impatient with something, I go within and say to myself, it's OK, everything will turn out ok, and it usually does. It's all mind stuff for me, which doesn't require for me to drop anything I'm doing because the mind is always with me. I practice in everyday life. I observe my thoughts and try not to get caught up in them. 

 It's not a "I don't have any time for, or I need to balance", for me because it's not a chore, a duty or an obligation. It's a way of life. It doesn't require any effort once you see it as who you are not something you want to become. If i want to dance the night away in a club or have drinks with friends, it doesn't mean i'm being "unspiritual" or if I'm reading a book on Spirituality, watching a video, doing spontaneous devotion or watching my breath and thoughts, it doesn't mean I'm being Spiritual. Either one of those things is just what's happening and i can return to that Eternal space where the light emanates from at any time. 

I try not to look at it as something I do, but a way of being. The ego is not who I am, I am the light of Awareness and the more I can concentrate on that and remember that, it doesn't matter what I'm doing Spiritually because all that is still the ego trying to achieve something that is impermanent and none of it is everlasting or eternal. 

[Realms of Wonder]

Hey!

I feel you, I am also in a long term, long distance relationship, working full time and building my Life-Purpose.

For me what has worked is recognizing that I will have a "spiritual" season in the future, a chapter where deep connection to reality IS the focus. For now it is meeting my basic needs. Finances, Relationships/sex, Meaning needs, Self esteem, etc..

For a long while I was meditating every day, that was a part of my morning routine which I built up over a while. But in the last 3 months I have let go of it completely, I will meditate here and there when I want to, but instead I wake up extra early and get 1.5-2 hours of creating in before I head to work.

Hope this can add some perspective, what have you been trying that has/hasn't worked?

Warmly,

Paul

[HMD]

13 hours ago, Princess Arabia said:

I try not to look at it as something I do, but a way of being.

@Princess Arabia Thanks for the response. I tend to make spirituality a chore when it's just a way of being.  I needed to hear that.

[HMD]

9 hours ago, Realms of Wonder said:

Hope this can add some perspective, what have you been trying that has/hasn't worked?

@Realms of Wonder I took this approach and let go of spirituality, meditation, etc. But I have found that I slip into a chaotic mess as soon as I do that. It took me years and years to deconstruct my identity and see through its illusion. This left me with an emptiness inside, which is something that both terrified me and brought me immense joy. But as soon as I drift away from my spiritual practices, I tend to fill that emptiness with all sorts of hedonistic things. In other words, I am overly susceptible to addictions if I "let go." 

Edited September 26, 2024 by HMD

[HMD]

@Michael569  I truly appreciate you taking the time and sharing your wisdom. I will be saving this and coming back to this from time to time. Some of these are super relevant to my situation. 

3 hours ago, Michael569 said:

All the best! Hope you'll find a way to make it work, we need more conscious people in the health industry filled with charlatans and quacks. 

We really do. Right now it's a messy situation in the nutrition world. Where are you right now in your journey, if you don't mind sharing?

Edited September 26, 2024 by HMD

[Sandhu]

@Michael569 You're amazing. This will be very helpful, inspiring and empowering for the OP.

[Ramanujan]

Balance is a lie

its a scam

look into the book "the one thing by gary keller and jay papasan" for more info

[HMD]

@Ramanujan Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.

 

[Chadders]

@HMD It’s tricky as I have a lot of things on the go

The key is discipline. Make the absolute most of the time you have to do what you need to do. Set a schedule and stick to it