Nikolas Konstantin

The idea of work-life

balance is killing you.

Why you should think

of the ”four
relationships” instead...
Forget the concept of
”work-life balance”.
It creates false
expectations:
It makes you feel as if you
failed, if you can't excel in
"life" and "work" equally.

Here is why you should think

of relationships instead
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Think of relationships
instead of balance
The quality of our
relationships marks the
quality of our lives.

Because, it is not balance

that makes us happy.

It is the resonance, depth

and quality of our
relationships.

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Your life is made

of the relationships
with your...
Work

Loved Ones

Self

Existence

nikolaskonstantin.com
Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

The four
Relationships in Life

Work Loved Ones

Expertise & Excellence Trust & Connection

Self Existence
Awareness & Wisdom & Wonder
Self-Knowledge

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Establishing a deep
relationship with each
of the four domains will
help you live a healthy,
examined life. 


np a ck t hi s
L e t ’ s u

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Relationship with
your Work
Measure of progress:

Expertise & Excellence

It is naive to think that you can do

great work without putting in the work.

Every idea of balance whilst learning is fiction. It

takes 10.000 iterations to master a skill.

To become great you need to stand up early and

put in the hours.

Results: Creativity, Contribution to

society, Excellence

nikolaskonstantin.com
Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

The truth: balance will be

difficult while you aspire
excellence in your work.

But, your skills in your

relationship with work will
remain once attained. So
don’t spend your life
chasing excellence
exclusively here.

For a deeper examined life

prioritise and grow in all
relationships of life.

they Here
are
nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Relationship with
your Loved Ones
Measure of progress:

Trust & Connection

Nothing is as beautiful as
“earned trust”.
Cultivating deep relationships with your
loved ones does not follow the logic of
“work”. Deepen this relationship by
being present, trustworthy and caring.

Results: Love, Care, Family, Bonds




nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Relationship
with your Self
Measure of progress:

Awareness & Self-Knowledge

We can only meet others as deep

as we have met ourselves.
From coaching over therapy to meditation cultivating
a relationship yourself is the cornerstone to depth in
all other relationships.

In this relationship you discover what gives your life

meaning. You learn what patterns in your life are
helpful. You will align your life around who you are.
Results: Being creative instead of reactive,
Alignment, Depth, Self-understanding



nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Dedicating a large
portion of your life on
your relationship with
your self will yield
beautiful answers.

nikolaskonstantin.com
 i t t o
Nikolas Konstantin
n t w a l i sh
@nikolaskonstantin d o e s t a b
n g t o e r e
l o p t h h
d e

Relationship
with Existence
Measure of progress:

Wisdom & Wonder

The world is full of magical

answers waiting for your senses
to grow sharper
Contemplative traditions from all over the world
dedicate time prominently on deepening their
relationship with existence.

Using meditation tradition’s toolbox and maps of our

human experience will increase your sense of wonder,
calm, joy and being.



Results: Wonder, an embodied understanding of the

principles and beauty of life, Meaning

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

An examined life is
a life of bandwidth
and depth. 


o n s h i p n e e d s
h a t r e l a t i e?
W i n y o u r l i f
de e p en i n g

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Your life is made

of the relationships
with your:

Work

Loved Ones

Self

Existence

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Establishing a deep
relationship with each
of the four domains will
help you live a healthy,
examined life.

nikolaskonstantin.com
 Nikolas Konstantin
@nikolaskonstantin

Where do you locate

yourself in the 4
relationships in your life?

Work 0 10

Loved Ones 0 10

Self 0 10

Existence 0 10

nikolaskonstantin.com
Thanks for reading
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