December 7

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

—Brian G. Dyson

There are some things in life that are incredibly pliable. If you make a mistake and lose a client, you can likely find another one. If you produce work that is sub-par, you’ll likely get another chance at it tomorrow. However, there are some things that are not quite so resilient. Relationships, your health, your friendships, your spiritual life, these are all much more fragile and must be handled with care. If you neglect them for too long — drop them — they may shatter.

You must know which things in your life are pliable and which are irreparably fragile.

Handle the fragile elements of your life with care. To be prolific, brilliant, and healthy, ensure that you are not neglecting them for the sake of your work.

Question: What are the fragile elements of your life? What do you do to ensure they are protected?