It is fantastic to encourage a friend who is making her work/life balance a success. There are some people who are able to make everything work: home, work, kids, spouse and friends. Everything in their lives seems to be at ease and working in harmony. When these people are observed from afar or even up close everything seems to be organized, all together and running smoothly. Because everything looks so smooth and at ease no one ever thinks of these people as having problems or difficulties in keeping all the balls floating in the air. Often, observers forget that it takes a lot of work to make balancing it all look easy.
Most people are familiar with the idea of crabs in a barrel. If there is a barrel full of crabs a lid doesn’t have to be placed on top of the barrel to keep the crabs inside. A lid is not needed because the crabs will pull on each other and keep each other from crawling to freedom at the top of the basket. Often that type of behavior is copied in people. It is wrong, there is a better way. If you are a person who has a friend who seems to have it all together, don’t be jealous. Don’t admire her from afar. Instead, compliment and encourage her.
Often people who are strong and able to keep all those balls in the air do not receive the encouragement they need from others because they do not appear to need it, and that is a shame. Often, those who are managing everything and doing a good job with it could use a compliment, some encouragement and some notice of the good work they are doing. The work they are doing to balance work/life and all the pieces is hard and takes a lot of energy. It is a good thing to encourage our friends who are successfully making it work.
Look around at your circle of friends and acquaintances today. If there is a woman who is working it out, who is balancing all those obligations she has and doing it well, encourage her, compliment her. It is a good thing to do. It will make her world better to hear someone say she is doing a job to be praised and admired. It will do her good to know that the work she puts into getting everything to balance is noticed and appreciated.
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In conclusion, it is fantastic to encourage a friend who is making her work life balance a success. So, the question for you this fantastic day is are you encouraging your friends who are trying to make their work/life balancing act work?
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I have a few friends that make balancing life look effortless. I’m envious!
Well, you know what they say about great minds! I like telling someone how I admire what they do. It never fails to make their day or happen on a day where they really needed it.
It is a popular saying on the east coast of the US where I live. The idea is that the crabs are never smart and never let each other climb up and out. Instead, they keep each other down.
Yes! I like your attitude of keeping the sisterhood strong!
I love this reminder to support another Mom. Support is key. Not only does it help the other Mom, but it helps you as well.
I’m really bad about this. I try, but jealousy rears its ugly head too often.
Great quote. It is so important to support each other- thank you for this kind post and reminder.
I think it’s important to support one another. I know I always feel a bit more energized or feel things are worthwhile when someone shares a kind word with me!
I think it is so important to encourage friends who are being successful instead of resenting them. It’s so much more healthier.
We all need to encourage each other. And instead of jealousy we need to be inspired to get our own lives in balance.
This is a great reminder. I always think to myself how amazing someone is, but I rarely tell them. I should be more verbal in telling my friends that I recognize their success!
Everyone needs support. I try to encourage and support my friends when ever I can!
Encouraging people is so important. Everyone can use some now and then. I know I can.
Such a great idea to encourage those who we think are doing it well. Especially because she’s probably feeling like she isn’t!
I never thought about it. Sometimes you think people doing well don’t need encouragement.
What a great message – I am all about lending a shoulder and sharing congrats with my friends and family. If we can’t be happy for the ones we love well then……. 🙂
Love the crabs in a barrel analogy! So true, I need to speak up and encourage people more!
It’s about supporting each other. Everyone needs a little push from time to time.
Encouragement is always needed. I know that I can always use it and I try to give it as much as I can!
It is wonderful to encourage people to do their best and to compliment them when they are really pulling everything together. Everyone needs to be recognized.
We should definitely encourage those who can pull it off successfully. I glitch at it sometimes.
It’s always a great idea to encourage others. Everyone loves hearing what a great job they’re doing.
I need to be better about having a balance. I work all day 7 days a week!
You are so right. It’s all too often that we forget to encourage the person who seems to have it all together.
It’s so important to be recognized and feel appreciated for everything I do! I make a point to always be encouraging and uplifting to my friends!
It is very hard to balance everything, I feel like I am walking a fine line some days, but i always encourage others, probably because I know all the hard work that goes into staying balanced in my personal and career life.
It is so great to be recognized for “having it all together” even when I don’t! It is nice to have a support system.
Words are truly wonderful and powerful. However, if it’s
coupled of action, your encouragement will truly be more effective. Imagine
what your action can do to someone who needs your encouragement. I’m sure that
if people would be more encouraging, this world will become a better place to
live in. 🙂
It’s so important to encourage those that we think are doing well. Our words of encouragement may just be the thing to keep the going!
I just told two people today how much I admired them for how they balanced their work and life. How ironic that you posted this today!
Encouragement is so important. I try to support those around me.
I love this. It’s so important to encourage one another, especially those that are working so hard at finding that balance and are succeeding.
This is right on the money! We should always be encouraging our friends no matter what anyway.
I’ve not heard the saying but it’s totally true. Especially with women. :/
Love this topic. So many of the women in my former life were negative and drug me down. So glad I overcame that and have learned to life each other up
Thank you for the reminder! I try to encourage friends when I can, but I get so caught up in life that I forget to too.
I have never heard this story before. Definitely encourage and don’t waste time on being jealous!
I love this. Yes! Congratulate her. It’s so much easier to encourage than to bring down and or be jealous of. Once again, a great post!
I actually don’t think I have ever heard of that story/saying. Is it from another country? We have to find another way out. Be the smart crab and stand on everyone else to get out!
The crabs in a barrel scenario is very sad. I love encouraging other people especially those who are doing well. Just because they are doing well doesn’t mean they don’t want to feel appreciated or acknowledge, because behind the scenes they are probably working their butts off. Lets keep encouraging each other especially with other women. We have to keep the sisterhood strong!
Nothing is ever perfect everybody has their problems,Some are just very good at hiding it.But if you can hold it all together and make everything look perfect thats an amazing person.
I have always loved the story of the crabs in the barrel. And it’s so true!