The Pursuit of Balance

Hello and thank you for joining me in my story.

Have you ever struggled — or are you currently struggling — to find the balance between ambition and your well-being?

You are not alone. I understand how you feel.

I found myself trying to balance taking risks, making brave decisions, and listening to myself while embracing the critical voices of my support system. These were people who had the best intentions for me.

By combining my truthfulness to my interests and visions with staying open to receiving perspectives from my support system, I am equipped to make brave decisions with inner peace instead of being scared of the unknown.

This is my well-being: being able to make tough and brave decisions with full focus and a feeling of inner calm.

The Dream

Imagine starting to enjoy making decisions every time you need to make one? That is what I wanted to experience.

I wanted to enjoy making brave decisions using and focusing on my courage and not being driven by fears.

I realized that I wanted to create an environment within myself and outside of myself that would enable me to make such decisions while maintaining my inner peace and balance.

My name is Nina, and I am writing this story from Cologne, Germany.

I am a business psychologist with a Master’s degree.

How did I get here?

The Journey Begins

Here is how my journey started: I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the age of 22 and started working as an intern in an event agency in the sports business in a small city called Bad Tölz, located in the south of Munich, Germany.

I moved to this little city due to the job opportunity, and because I played handball for many years, I joined the handball club and quickly made friends.

This is the beauty of sports!

After my 6-month internship, I was offered a full-time position as a Project and Event Manager. My ambitious mind and empathic heart helped me serve clients successfully, which resulted in taking on more responsibility and bigger clients quickly.

However, I soon realized that, regardless of my title, I wouldn’t have a lot of room for professional growth.

The Golden Cage

I am 24 years old, in full-time employment, living in one of the richest regions in Germany (around Bavaria), driving a car, playing handball in a responsible position (Centre back and Pivot), surrounded by friends and parents two hours car drive away.

From a bird’s-eye view, people would say, “Nina has it all, or what else is Nina asking for?”

But I felt stuck in my professional and personal growth at that time.

The Leap

I started brainstorming ideas on how I could take ownership of my life and build an environment that would boost my professional and personal growth.

This is what I did: During my time in the sports business and event management, I worked with many people, building networks in the sports industry, exploring emotions through events, and developing an interest in:

• People and psychology
• Emotions and culture
• Communication and leadership

I wanted to understand more, learn more, know more, and explore more.

Hence, I decided to enroll in a Master’s degree, which would enrich my educational background, open new jobs and career opportunities, and help me build stronger networks.

With the decision to pursue a full-time Master’s degree, I quit my job and left the city. I left my work, handball club, friends, parents, and comfortable surroundings I had built over the years to study Business and Psychology with a major in Business Coaching in Cologne, Germany.

I took the risk to leave the safe and settled life to chase my interests and explore what’s in it for me.

I wouldn’t say that I was chasing my dreams because, at that time, I didn’t know what I was dreaming of.

Here are my lessons learned: an idea or dream can be a blurry draft to start with; as you trust the process, you will continue to paint your picture in the process.

I have come to realize that the journey is as important as the destination. It is not just about reaching a particular goal or obtaining a certain degree, but it’s about the growth and learning that happens along the way.

Through my experiences, I have learned that it is crucial to listen to yourself and your own desires and to seek input from those around you who have your best interests at heart.

While doing so, others’ perspectives can help to fill in your gaps. My inner circle has helped me to add more rationality to why I really want to change my situation and not only follow my gut feeling — by combining both, critical thinking and emotional intelligence I felt confident and strong to be the driver of the change and owner of my story.

It is possible to find a balance between your personal ambitions and your well-being, and doing so can lead to a fulfilling and more meaningful life.

If you are struggling to find that balance, I encourage you to:

1. Take a step back and reflect on what truly matters to you
2. Identify your interests and values
3. Consider how you can align them with your personal and professional goals
4. Stay open to the perspectives of those around you
5. Ultimately, trust yourself and your intuition

Finding Balance

My journey in “The Pursuit of Balance” exemplifies the challenges many of us face in balancing ambition and well-being.

My relentless pursuit of success ultimately led to my physical and emotional exhaustion, but with the help of my loved ones and a newfound understanding of the importance of self-care, I was able to find the balance I needed to thrive.

My story serves as a reminder that achieving our goals and dreams is important, but not at the cost of our own well-being.

By prioritizing self-care and being mindful of our limits, we can find the balance we need to lead fulfilling lives both professionally and personally.

Thank you for reading my story, and I hope that it has inspired you to find your own path to balance and fulfillment.

And thank you, Dennis, for inspiring me to share this side of my journey in Embracing the Climb.

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained #NVNG

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Quick Fire Q&A

Favourite Books

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Daily Habits

I try to eat healthily and stay active by moving daily. This can take various forms:

• Walking to the office
• Taking the stairs to the apartment
• Meeting friends for a walk and talk
• Making phone calls while walking
• Scheduling a meeting with colleagues to take a walk in the sun

Worst Advice

“Follow your dreams”

I have periods where I dream a lot and times where I don’t dream at all. It’s important to be aware of your dreams, but try not to overthink them. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with your dreams, so take responsibility and become the author of your own dreams. Pursue the dreams you desire and be the catalyst for change.

Best Advice

• “Your thoughts are a form of energy so be mindful of the impact of your thoughts (law of attraction) and the strength of your mind.”
• “You will meet twice — treat people in a way that you want to be treated.”

Proudest Accomplishment

The ability to find, or return to, balance in life is something I take great pride in.

I trust in the process and in who and where I am today while recognizing that there is still so much more I would like to achieve.

Presently, I am particularly proud of having established an IT company where I can witness the growth of young people. It’s a work environment where mistakes are not only allowed but encouraged as an opportunity to learn, unlearn, relearn, succeed, and achieve results beyond their imagination.

Dream Walking Partner

Michelle Obama

I was inspired by her biography. I admire her as a human being and person, and she continues to inspire me through her journey — from where she began to who she became.

Her book, Becoming, is another recommendation of mine. I admire her not only as a woman and first lady but also as a mother and daughter, a wife, and a public figure.