Multiple Roles. One Juggler

 Multiple Roles. One Juggler



So there I was. Early morning, post-yoga glow, walking down a quiet flight of stairs with another practitioner — let’s call him the Enlightened Fumbler.

First, his yoga mat slipped. A bit clumsy, I thought. Happens.
Then his water bottle fell. Slightly more concerning — hydration is sacred.
And just as I was about to mentally wish him a better grip on life, clatter! — the mobile phone dropped. The universal symbol of fragility and panic.

I bent down, handed it to him, and smiled. He mumbled a flustered thank you and carried on down the stairs like this was all perfectly normal.

And that’s when it struck me:

This is all of us.

We’re carrying way too many things —
Our roles: Parent. Partner. Team leader. Volunteer. Friend. Committed daughter. Dutiful son. Sometimes unpaid Uber driver.
Our aspirations: Be calm. Be productive. Be kind. Also, get those taxes done.
Our emotional cargo: Worries, half-dreams, quiet regrets, WhatsApp notifications.

And when one part slips — we don’t stop.
We march on, assuming (or hoping) the rest of our life will magically stay intact.

I’m reminded of a phrase I came across nearly 30 years ago (when dinosaurs roamed and phones didn’t):

“The erroneous assumption of separability.”
The incorrect assumption we can isolate one part of life from another, without consequences.

Spoiler alert: we can’t.

So here’s this week’s gentle reflection — not a to-do list, just a few questions to walk with (preferably without dropping anything):

  • Which “balls” are you juggling right now?

  • If you were to stop now — just for a moment — what might you notice?

  • What might a gentle reset look like, before the metaphorical mobile phone of your life crashes into tiny glass bits?

Do check out this simple one minute video from Columbia Business School on why pausing is so important at work! 

As always, feel free to write back — share your fumbles, your pauses, your metaphors. We’re all in this balancing act together.

And until next time: breathe. Grip your yoga mat firmly. And maybe… just maybe… stop after the first drop.

Mindfully, 

Sanjay
Happiness Catalyst | Occasional Juggler | Recovering Overthinker

Helping Busy Professionals Lead More Fulfilling Lives 

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