You tell yourself you're working hard for your family, but lately, your partner says you're using work to avoid them. Why is work a more comfortable and clear space than home?In this episode, Rich Heller dives into workaholism—a cultural disease and a socially sanctioned escape hatch from the complexities of emotional connection.The Escape Hatch: Work is often preferred because it offers clear goals and instant rewards (dopamine hits), unlike marriage, which is a constant process without simple "check" marks. This environment fosters an addictive quality, turning the virtue of providing into the vice of avoidance.The Cost of Escape: We discuss the high price of this pattern, often seen in the primary wage earner (a role held by men in 55% of marriages and women in 29%). When providing morphs into avoidance, the cost is the loss of intimacy, goodwill, and emotional fluency at home.Learn How to Shift: We share the story of Brad and Gwen, who replaced avoidance with alignment by:- Establishing strict work cutoff times and transition rituals.- Practicing emotional labeling and micro-connections.- Reframing his drive for achievement to align with family values.If work has become your hiding place, it’s time to move from defensiveness to genuine partnership.Resources: If work has become a hiding place for you, join our free community group, The Bridge, for resources to help you build emotional fluency and strong boundaries: www.richinrelationship.com
