The Integrated Life ∞

I am not much of an artist, but I use simple drawing all the time in coaching conversations. This one in particular has come straight from a mentor of mine, Steve Graves. It looks like a sideways eight, the infinity symbol you probably remember from high school math.

I use it to show something most of us already feel, but do not always name: your personal life and your work life are deeply connected.

One circle represents you as a person. Your relationships, habits, faith, health, emotions, and energy.

The other circle represents your work. Your ambition, pressure, opportunity, responsibility, and growth.

We often treat these as separate worlds, but they are not. A rough morning at home makes it harder to focus at work. A meaningful win at work often brings more energy home. Over time, health in one circle feeds the other, and lack of health in one eventually drags both down.

You can compartmentalize for a season, but not forever.

Here is a picture that helps.

Imagine someone who goes to the gym every day and only trains one arm. Same weight. Same routine. Years of effort. One strong arm, one underdeveloped arm.

It sounds ridiculous, but many leaders live this way.

Some of us pour everything into work growth. We chase promotions, raises, recognition, and responsibility, while neglecting character, relationships, faith, rest, or emotional maturity. Then opportunity outruns our capacity, and we quietly feel overwhelmed or exposed.

Others do the opposite. We invest heavily in personal growth, reading books, journaling, reflecting, and staying comfortable, but never developing skills, taking risks, or increasing our impact through work. Growth without purpose eventually stalls.

You do not grow strong just to admire the mirror. You grow strong so you can lift something meaningful.

One of the most helpful shifts you can make early in your career is moving from achievement to stewardship.

If who you are and what you have are gifts, your abilities, opportunities, education, job, and influence, then growth becomes a responsibility, not just a personal preference.

Stewardship asks better questions.

What is this season asking me to grow into
Where is my work stretching my character
Where does my personal life need strengthening to support the responsibility I am carrying

As one circle grows, the other must grow alongside it. The assignments will keep getting bigger. Make sure your capacity is growing with them.

A 10-minute exercise to close and move forward

This is not about fixing everything. It is about naming where you are and taking one intentional step.

Step 1: Identify Your Natural Lean

We all lean one way. There is no wrong answer.

Take 60 seconds and answer this honestly:

Right now, which circle gets the best of me most weeks?

• Personal life, comfort, reflection, relationships, inner work

• Work life, ambition, execution, responsibility, external results

Write it down. Do not overthink it.

Your lean is not a flaw. It is simply information. Left unaddressed, it creates an imbalance. Named early, it creates clarity.

Step 2: Name the Cost of Staying Here

This is where tension becomes useful.

If nothing changed in the next 6 to 12 months, what would be at risk?

• Energy

• Integrity

• Relationships

• Confidence

• Opportunity

Write one sentence that starts with:
“If I keep leaning this way without strengthening the other circle…”

Honesty here is the catalyst for change.

Step 3: Build a One-Circle Strengthening Action Plan

Now shift from awareness to stewardship.

Ask this question:
What is one intentional action I could take in the next 30 days to strengthen the other circle?

Use the four buckets below to guide your decision. You only need one action, not four.

1- Knowledge

• What do I need to understand that I currently do not?

• Examples: reading one helpful book, learning how finances actually work, seeking clarity on work expectations.

2- Skill

• What do I need to practice or develop?

• Examples: communication, time management, leadership, setting boundaries, and decision making.

3- Character

• Who do I need to become to carry what I am being given?

• Examples: integrity under pressure, consistency, humility, courage, and emotional maturity.Passion/Vision

4- Passion/Vision

• What needs to be reawakened or clarified?

• Examples: reconnecting with why you do your work, naming what kind of life you are actually building, aligning effort with purpose.

• Circle one bucket. Write one concrete action. Put a date next to it.

A connected life is not built in dramatic moments. It is built on small, intentional decisions made early.

The assignments will keep getting bigger.
The question is whether you are growing in ways that will help you steward them well.

Do not aim for balance.
Aim for alignment.

One strengthened circle at a time.

As always, let us know how we can help you navigate your world as you navigate the world.

In Your Corner.

See you next Tuesday!