On Context

It is fairly obvious that we all have our own journey with hopes, dreams, expectations, and different ways of seeing the world. When we are busy with our day-to-day activities, we usually do not have the time or the thought to take a step back to pan out and look at the bigger picture. Instead, we often focus primarily on our own challenges, fears, concerns, hopes, and so on.

Because of this, we tend to look at external disrupting factors as unfair to us or biased, as if we are the right ones and everything is coming at us and making our lives miserable. I sometimes fall into that trap as well. I am, after all, just a human being.

Being unhappy or irritated about certain work / personal life situations or specific folks is part of the deal for many people. At the same time, there are friends, colleagues, work relationships, business partners, and family members with whom we have great relationships. With them, we find fulfillment, we build things, and we grow.

When I look at content on LinkedIn or think about my 2026 goals and long-term master plan / strategy, I sometimes forget about context. For some people, having a stable day job is the best possible solution. For others, it feels like being in a cage As I grow older, I increasingly see that, in the end, it is all about context.

Being busy and constantly dealing with challenges—whether related to work, family, or other aspects of life—often distracts us from looking at our long-term goals. We should not lose track about these, and should acknowledge that they are probably unique. Sure, everybody wants to be happy, healthy, and wealthy, but the route and journey will wildly differ for each of us.

When dealing with work relationships -especially when receiving pusback, criticism, or dealing with different points of view- we have to acknowledge this reality and understand that people may not be directly willing to make your life miserable, but may come from a totally different perspective.

Let's use those moments to reflect on where they come from, and to assess objectively whether the pushback / criticism is justified, and let's also take the time to separate ourselves as individuals from our role in an organization: am I being criticized as a human being who did something wrong, or am I dealing with the consequences of a decision taken months ago in a totally different context?

Besides acknowledging those perspectives, and while doing introspective work, we should not crush our own passions, dreams, expectations, or ambitions just because others have a different perspective.

When dealing with hardships, criticism, or unfulfilled expectations—about goals, people, business objectives, or even yourself—it helps to take a step back. Think about the context. Where are people coming from? What are they dealing with?

This matters not only at work or in a day job, but also in business relationships. Seek to understand the problem they are trying to solve, the challenges they are facing, and how you might help them address those challenges. Sometimes a way forward can be found. Sometimes it cannot, and that needs to be accepted.

If you feel stuck, try stepping back, looking at the big picture, and thinking about context.