There was a time when I literally lost touch with reality in my pursuit of the ideal workplace.

Life is much simpler than we believe it to be. It is we who make it complex, so we came with complicated ways to simplify it again. Ideals and happiness are very subjective matters, so striving for an ideal environment with always happy people is likely close to impossible. Instead, we should focus on keeping things realistic, practical, and authentic.

We can create an environment where people can actively engage and bring joy to work, one laughter at a time. We can move away from the mystical theories of the ideal environment found in countless books. For me, there is no longer such a thing as an ideal; it is always a compromise for a win-win situation.

What I was missing all this time was acceptance. I needed to accept myself as I am and acknowledge that each of us deserves to overcome suffering and find joy in this life. I firmly believe that we need to lead our lives with more compassion. So, #BeStill, #BeReal – it's a good start.