The Myth of ‘Work/Life Balance’, By Sam Kabert, Soul Seekr Podcast

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The Myth of ‘Work/Life Balance’

By Sam Kabert, Soul Seekr Podcast

The Yin & Yang symbol has been used throughout the centuries as an ancient representation of energy within the universe, and how it flows between opposing forces to keep things balanced and in perfect harmony. If you’re interested in learning more about the archetypal energy of Yin and Yang, how it relates to your life, and how you can use this knowledge to affect positive change, read on!

First, we must explore the illusion of Work/Life Balance. Work in every sense of the word represents the archetypal energy of Yang. As a refresher the archetypal energy of Yang represents structure, it represents doing/achieving and the way we show up in the world. Whereas Yin represents fluidity, receptivity, flow, intuition and really connecting with our Soul.

The difficulty is that both work and life require the element of Yang.

Think about it, most of us spend 5 out of 7 days a week working. And the majority of the waking hours during work days are spent actually working. When we do have free time, we have the obligations of life. Whether it be paying bills, taking care of loved ones (including kids, pets, parents etc) or maybe it’s shuffling from appointment to appointment to take care of our health.

The point is we are consumed with Yang energy. Work/Life Balance does not allow for any connection to what our soul is craving for.

I am not saying we should stop doing any and all work. What I am saying is we must find ways to embrace the connection to our Souls (Yin energy).

Yin Represents Feeding Your Soul

I have a question for you; and please ... really let this sink in...How often do you make time to feed your soul?

“Feeding Your Soul” is going to look different for each of us, as we are all unique beings.

“Feeding Your Soul” does not mean:

x Meditation x Exploring the Astral x Doing some sort of healing retreat

In fact, it’s so much more accessible … “Feeding Your Soul” is up for you to define! It’s not for anyone else to define for you!

Let this be your metaphoric permission slip, to sit back, reflect and see what’s coming to the surface. This is the art of presence.

Here are some ways to incorporate Yin back into your life: • Finding stillness and silence within nature • Re-establishing your relationship with tech: turning off electronics periodically to “disconnect” from distractions • Something calming like gardening, painting, drawing • Connecting with music through dance or picking up an instrument • Writing as a form of expression

These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowin’. Please know that you can tap into the use of yin energy when you are feeling drained and exhausted to provide a break from life’s chaos.

The Aftermath of Being Out of Balance

Given the Mental Health Crisis we are facing, it’s become abundantly clear that the root cause … not the symptom, but the root cause of this Mental Health Crisis stems from being disconnected from … • That Voice in Our Head that Guides Us • Being in Tune With Our

Inner Landscape • A Connection to Something

Outside of this Earthly Realm & Human Experience

In the workplace alone, we are seeing 53% of people reporting they feel more emotionally exhausted and 75% feel more socially isolated since the start of the Pandemic in 2020 (per a study by the Harvard Business Review).

The stats clearly back the importance of Mental Health. The only choice is whether we (you) will do something about it or not ...

A simple solution to make one’s own Mental Health a priority is through the practice of SOUL/Life Balance. By doing so, you are making an agreement with yourself to put yourself first and foremost, always while simultaneously reframing “work” as part of the Yang energy required in living your life.

How to Incorporate These Lessons Into Your Life

The choice to build Yin energy into your life is not an extra to-do to your list, nor is it something we shame ourselves for if we don’t do it as much as we’d like. In reality, it’s a practice of bringing present awareness to our inner world/landscape moment to moment. By bringing awareness to the present moment through connecting with what’s rising to the surface within you; you will be guided to not only “feeding your soul” daily but as you continue this practice you’ll be able to understand what it means to “feed your soul” moment to moment.

A Life of Fulfillment is so much more accessible than we’ve been led to believe is possible.

If you’d like to go deeper on these concepts, check out my book SOUL/Life Balance or checking out my recent SOUL SEEKR podcast episode (https://open.spotify. com/show/17i3xvuAhNxO80SVARfvnb) which is all about bringing the Yin & Yang energy into the workplace. n •••

SOUL/Life Balance isn’t something to chase nor something to attain. Rather, it’s a way of being and it starts with the mindset shift of reframing Work/Life Balance to SOUL/ Life Balance by asking yourself on a daily basis: “How can I feed my Soul in this moment?”

“Park Grant” from page 20

The 2015 Parks Forward discussions became a catalyst for AB 209. Californians shared a similar vision in 2017 during 30 focus groups with over 500 participants for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Throughout the state, from heavily urbanized to rural areas, Californians emphasized a desire for multigenerational programs that “bring families together,” activate local parks and take residents with transportation challenges to natural areas outside their communities.

“Delivering services across the state – including in many communities currently without adequate outdoor programs – will make a real, lasting difference in the lives of young people and all residents,” said Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “I am especially excited about empowering young people to explore their leadership potential. It’s one more way the state of California is working to improve the lives of all Californians.”

Four of every 10 Californians have no access to open space within walking distance of their home and six of every 10 Californians live in park-poor neighborhoods. Programs such as the Outdoors Equity Grants Program help advance the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative. This effort expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority to expanding access in underserved communities.

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Conduct the Young Outdoors Leaders of Comunidad de Live Oak Program for residents near Brommer Street County Park in the City of Santa Cruz. This program will include approximately 149 activity days in the community for approximately 5,700 participants and approximately 14 trips to natural areas for approximately 710 participants during four years of programming. Activities in the community will include Live Oak Youth Leading Environmental Justice; Solution Based Learning About Environmental Issues; Discovering Nature: Backyard and Beyond; Curriculum Based Activities at Brommer Street Park; and Preparing Participants for Natural Area Trips.

Trips to natural areas outside of the community will include Building Family Forest Comfort at Henry Cowell; Youth Leaders Visit Big Basin Wildfire Effects and Forest Restoration; Humboldt Redwoods State Park Youth Camping Adventure; Secret Spot Family Camping on the Coastal Cliffs, Big Sur State Park Waterfall Wow Family Campout; Yosemite National Park Family Snow Experience; Family Viewing: Perseid Meteor Shower at Quail Hollow; Wildlife and Youth: Close-ups on Elkhorn Slough; Youth Explore a Healthy Creek at Henry Cowell; Pinto Lake Paddleboats, Youth Agriculture History Tour and Wetlands Education; Watsonville Slough Farm Land Trust Youth Tour: The Agriculture and Watershed Connection; Youth, Tide Pooling, Seymour Center & Moore Creek Preserve; Monterey Bay Aquarium Family Ocean Discovery; and Whale Watching Family Cruise on the Bay. n