If you’ve ever felt like work life balance is a myth you’re failing to live up to, you’re not alone. For years, women in accounting have been told that success means perfectly managing a packed calendar, checking all the boxes, and giving 100% to everything at all times. But what if the whole idea of balance is setting us up to fail?
In a recent CPA MOMS Podcast episode, Nicole Kehl and founder Mayumi Young unpack this powerful shift: moving from balance to harmony. Here’s why it matters and how it can change your life.
Balance Sets You Up for Guilt
The word “balance” suggests everything should be equal: time, energy, focus, attention. But life isn’t a scale. Trying to evenly split 24 hours between your kids, clients, self-care, marriage, and sleep is unrealistic. When you can’t do it all, you feel like you’re failing. And for many women, that daily sense of failure builds into burnout, resentment, and a nagging question: Why can’t I keep up?
Harmony Honors Real Life
Harmony offers a more human, compassionate alternative. Instead of chasing perfection, you begin to ask: What needs my attention most right now? It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most and letting go of the rest. Harmony lets you ride the waves of life, knowing some days will be smooth and others will wipe you out. The difference? You’re not fighting the waves. You’re dancing with them.
Mayumi uses the analogy of surfing: sometimes you paddle hard, sometimes you fall, and sometimes you catch the wave and feel totally alive. That’s harmony.
Your New Goal: Fulfillment Over Perfection
When you make harmony the goal, something shifts. You stop trying to fit into someone else’s idea of success and start defining it for yourself. You notice which habits, relationships, and rhythms actually support your well-being. You give yourself permission to reset and adjust your sails instead of sinking under pressure.
This isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about realigning your priorities. Work life harmony means showing up as your whole self, not splitting into pieces to meet external expectations.
Try This Today
Instead of asking, “Did I get everything done?”, try asking: “Did I honor what mattered most today?” Start your day with an intention. Define what success looks like for you today. Maybe it’s one deep conversation. One tax return. One nap. Let that be enough.
You’ll find that when you aim for harmony, you stop feeling behind and start feeling empowered.
Ready to stop chasing balance and start living in harmony? Join a community of like-hearted women building fulfilling lives and careers at https://cpamoms.com/start