Why "Work-Life Balance" is a Myth (And What to Aim for Instead): The LADDER of LIGHT Daily Devotional

בס"ד

If I hear the phrase "work-life balance" one more time, I might scream. It’s the modern holy grail, isn't it? We act like our lives are a pie chart, trying to slice it perfectly: 30% for career, 20% for family, 10% for "me time," and maybe—if we’re feeling guilty—5% for God or spirituality.

But here is the uncomfortable truth: It doesn’t work.

We just end up feeling fragmented. When we’re at work, we feel guilty about ignoring our families. When we’re praying or meditating, we’re distracted by our to-do lists. We feel like we are living two (or ten) different lives, constantly code-switching between "Corporate Me," "Parent Me," and "Spiritual Me." It’s exhausting, and it leaves us feeling scattered, not balanced.

The Ancient Wisdom

In today's daily devotional study of Chapter 1 of Mesillas Yesharim offers a radical solution to this fragmentation. The Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) teaches that the "Foundation of Piety" isn't about balancing your pie chart—it’s about throwing out the chart entirely.

He writes that a person must clarify and verify "what is his obligation in his world." Notice the singular. Not "obligations." Obligation.

The Ramchal explains that since the ultimate goal is Closeness to God, then everything in our lives must be a straight line pointing to that goal. He doesn't say "Stop working" or "Ignore your physical needs." He says something far more profound: Your physical actions are only meaningful if they fuel your spiritual goal.

Think of it like an arrow. An arrow doesn't have "balance." It has direction. The feathers, the wood, and the metal tip are all different materials, but they are all united by a single trajectory.

In this view, your 9-to-5 job isn't a distraction from your spiritual life; it is the fuel for it. If you earn money to support a home where kindness dwells, your "work" has just become "worship." If you exercise so you have the energy to help others, your gym session is a spiritual act.

The goal isn't to balance the secular and the holy. The goal is to make the secular holy.

The Biblical Connection

King Solomon, the wisest of all men, gave us the ultimate "life hack" for this in the Book of Proverbs (Mishlei): "In all your ways, know Him, and He will straighten your paths" (Proverbs 3:6).

"All your ways" means exactly that. Not just in our houses of worship. But in the kitchen, in the boardroom, and in the traffic jam. When we align our "Outlook and Ambition" to this single point—knowing God in this moment—the path becomes straight. The fragmentation disappears because we are no longer a person with ten different goals. We are a person with one goal, using ten different tools to achieve it.

Practical Application

How do we stop the juggling act today?

1. The "Before-Action" Pause: Before starting a mundane task today—answering emails, doing laundry, or driving to a meeting—take three seconds to set a "Target Intent." Whisper to yourself: "I am doing this to maintain my world so I can serve God with joy." You haven't changed the action (you're still doing laundry), but you have completely transformed the reality of the action. You’ve turned a chore into a step on the ladder.

2. The Ambition Audit: Look at your biggest goal right now (a promotion, a new house, a fitness goal). Ask yourself the hard question: "If I achieve this, how will it actually help me connect to the Divine?" If you can't find an answer, you don't necessarily need to dump the goal—but you definitely need to rewrite the reason for it. Align the arrow before you shoot.

---

About The LADDER OF LIGHT Devotional Series: The Inner Dimension of Redemption 

At From Zion With Love, we explore the Divine Blueprint through prophecy, history, and current events—the "outer" march toward the Final Redemption. Global Redemption is intimately connected to our responsibility to personal preparation.

Ladder of Light is your daily guide to that inner work. Drawing on authentic ancient Jewish wisdom that is universal in scope, this series is dedicated to perfecting the character and preparing the vessel of the soul for the great era ahead.

Prepare With Us Don’t just watch history unfold; be part of the spiritual solution. Join our Ladder of Light Study Group—open to everyone, regardless of background—to discuss how we apply these timeless truths to prepare ourselves for each day and for the Final Redemption.

Join NOW The Ladder of Light Study Group