A Venn Diagram with A Perfect Overlap is Just a Circle
A Venn diagram with a perfect overlap is not a Venn diagram anymore. It’s a circle. And while circles are neat, they erase the tension, contrast, and complexity that make decisions meaningful.
People often seek this complete overlap in life, wanting everything to align perfectly. The perfect job that also pays the most. The perfect balance between work and personal life. The ideal mix of challenge and ease. But real life doesn’t work like that. The moment you have everything in one circle, you’re not making choices anymore; you’re just drawing a boundary around a reality that doesn’t exist.
Why We Chase the Impossible
It’s tempting to believe you can have it all. Social media and success stories fuel this illusion—people showcasing their wins while hiding their sacrifices. You see entrepreneurs claiming they work four-hour weeks while making millions. Parents who seem to juggle demanding careers and quality family time effortlessly. Creatives who appear to have endless inspiration without the burnout.
But the reality behind the scenes? There are trade-offs. Something always gives. That successful entrepreneur might have spent years working long nights before achieving flexibility. The seemingly perfect work-life balance might come at the cost of slow career growth. Every achievement comes with an unseen price.
The Power of Trade-offs
Tension is what makes choices interesting. The reason Venn diagrams are helpful is that they highlight trade-offs—where things align and where they don’t. Instead of chasing the illusion of total overlap, the better approach is to embrace the spaces in between. The places where things partially overlap but require effort, prioritisation, and sometimes letting go.
Shift Your Perspective
Instead of asking, “How do I get everything?” ask, “What trade-offs am I willing to make?”
Because if your Venn diagram is just a circle, you’re not making a choice—you’re avoiding one.
The happiest, most successful people aren’t the ones who figured out how to have it all. They are the ones who figured out what matters most and leaned into it fully. They embraced the overlap where it made sense and let go of what didn’t fit.