Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival according to the Chinese calendar. It’s a day when families and friends gather together, sharing good food and drinks under the fullest moon of the year — a symbol of completeness and reunion. Traditionally, we spend this time with our loved ones, showing gratitude, pausing, and reflecting on the year so far.
The bright, round moon reminds us of unity and wholeness, even if our lives often feel fragmented by work, responsibilities, and the constant rush of modern living. For me, this festival always brings a moment to breathe — to take stock of where I am, both in life and in work.
Work and Life Attitude
I remember in my twenties, we lived by the motto “work hard, play hard.” After graduation, it felt like life had just begun. I was finally earning my own living. I knew I had to work to make money, but that money also gave me freedom — the freedom to enjoy time with friends, pay for meals, and go on holidays.
Those were years filled with energy and ambition. I worked hard hoping for a better position, a better salary, and a better lifestyle. Success felt simple then — work more, earn more, live more. It was exciting, and at that stage of life, that drive made sense.
Now, in my forties, someone recently asked me, “What does work–life balance really mean?” It’s a good question — and one that reflects how our attitudes toward work and personal life shift as we grow older. These changes might come with age, evolving values in society, or simply the different life situations we find ourselves in.
The shift doesn’t mean we’ve lost our energy or ambition. It’s more about self-awareness — about understanding what truly matters and aligning our time and energy with those values. I’ve noticed this not just in myself, but also in the people I work with.
Through my coaching sessions with artists and business owners, I’ve seen a pattern: at some point, people start to reflect on the deeper meaning behind what they do. It’s not just “Am I successful?” but “Is this success making me happy?”
Balance or Harmony?
When we talk about work–life balance, it sounds as if we’re trying to weigh work on one side and life on the other — as though they’re opposing forces that must be kept even. But I don’t really see it that way.
Maybe balance isn’t the right word. Balance sounds like a constant battle between two sides, but life is rarely that symmetrical. What if we thought of it instead as harmony — where different parts of our lives support and enrich one another?
Over the years, I’ve coached many artists whose work is their life — their passion, their expression, their identity. I’ve also met people who dedicate themselves entirely to their work, finding meaning and joy through achievement and contribution.
Take Frida Kahlo, for example. Her paintings were not just art — they were an expression of her life, her experiences, and her emotions. For her, the separation between work and life didn’t exist; her creativity and her existence were deeply intertwined, each nourishing the other.
On the other hand, I’ve met professionals who have achieved incredible career success but quietly confess that they feel disconnected — like they’ve been running a race without knowing where the finish line is. For them, the pursuit of “balance” becomes an urgent need to rediscover themselves beyond their job title.
So, maybe it’s not about dividing our time equally between work and life, but about allowing the two to flow together — to find a rhythm that feels right for each of us.
Happiness — What Does It Really Mean?
Perhaps happiness doesn’t come from separating work and life, but from integrating them — finding harmony rather than balance. If our work gives us purpose and our personal life gives us energy and connection, then both can support each other.
Of course, not everyone has that luxury. Some people face challenges that make harmony feel out of reach. I’ve met people struggling with illness or financial hardship, unable to earn enough to cover basic needs. Their priorities are survival, not balance.
And then, there are those who work endlessly, chasing success, but lose interest and joy in what they’re doing. They have financial security, yet they feel empty.
So, where does happiness lie?
Is it in achieving goals, or in having the space to breathe? Is it in career progression, or in meaningful relationships? The answer, I think, is deeply personal.
Sometimes I ask myself — are we earning a living, or dying for a living?
That question often helps me pause and re-evaluate how I spend my days. Because the truth is, happiness isn’t a constant feeling; it’s a balance of meaning, gratitude, and peace. When we can find joy in small moments — a good conversation, a piece of work we’re proud of, or simply time with people we love — that’s when life feels most whole.
Finding Wholeness
As the moon shines brightly this Mid-Autumn Festival, it reminds me of wholeness — not halves on a scale, but a circle that holds everything together.
Maybe that’s what true work–life balance really is: not dividing, but uniting what matters most. It’s about being present wherever we are — fully engaged at work when we’re there, and fully connected with our loved ones when we’re home. It’s about allowing work to give us purpose and life to give us meaning.
The moon’s phases remind us that everything changes — just as our energy, our ambitions, and our definitions of balance evolve over time. Sometimes work takes more space, sometimes life does. Both are part of the same circle.
So, as we celebrate this festival of reunion and reflection, I wish for everyone to find their own version of harmony — one that makes them feel complete, fulfilled, and at peace.
After all, balance isn’t something we chase; it’s something we create — quietly, intentionally, and with gratitude.
